Markers of Fibrosis and Inflammation in Exhaled Breath Condensate (EBC) and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid (BALF) of Patients with Pulmonary Sarcoidosis: A Pilot Study

Abstract

FOB does not significantly affect levels of airway inflammation and fibrosis markers present in EBC before and after FOB; they were also comparable to the concentrations marked by BALF. The lack of correlation between markers levels in EBC and BALF indicates that these methods are not equivalent. Due to repeatibility, and less invasive, simple method of EBC test it seems reasonable to continue the research on the larger number of patients.