Asthma ; Child, Inflammation ; Exhaled breath temperature
Abstract
Purpose: Exhaled breath temperature (EBT) has been suggested as a noninvasive marker of airway inflammation in asthma. The
aim of this study was to determine its clinical implication in children with asthma.
Methods: A total of 233 children were enrolled in this study. Among them, 116 were asthmatic children and 117 were healthy children.
Spirometry, bronchodilator response (BDR) test, methacholine challenge test, and skin prick test were performed. EBT, fractional
exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), blood eosinophils, and total IgE levels were measured. EBT was measured by using X-halo.
Results: EBT was significantly higher in the asthma group than in the control group (median [interquartile range], 32.1°C [30.0°C–
33.9°C] vs. 29.7°C [29.0°C–31.3°C], P<0.001). EBT was significantly higher in poorly or partly controlled asthmatic children than wellcontrolled
asthmatic children (33.5°C [31.0°C–34.4°C] vs. 30.3°C [29.3°C–32.9°C], P<0.0001). Among total subjects, EBT was significantly
higher in the atopic group than in the nonatopic group (32.4°C [30.3°C–34.0°C] vs. 29.8°C [29.0°C–30.3°C], P<0.001). There
were neither significant associations between EBT and BDR (r=0.109, P=0.241) nor between EBT and PC20 (provocation concentration
causing a 20% fall in FEV1) in total subjects (r=0.127, P=0.316). EBT did not show any association with FeNO (r=0.353, P=0.071).
Conclusion: Our study suggests that EBT might play a role as an ancillary marker for allergic airway inflammation and the degree of
control in pediatric asthma patients. Additional studies are required to explore the value of EBT in detail.