Exhaled breath condensate magnesium levels of infants with bronchiolitis

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the exhaled breath condensate (EBC)magnesium levels of infants with bronchiolitis and to investigate theirrelationship with disease severity. Fifty infants with moderate and severebronchiolitis, grouped according to the bronchiolitis clinical severity scores(CSS), and 25 healthy children were included in the study. EBC was collectedusing an R tube commercial device; flammable atomic absorption spectrometrywas used for the identification of magnesium level in this method. The medianconcentration of EBC magnesium levels in the group of moderate bronchiolitispatients was 0.82 (0-2.71) μg/ml, and that of severe bronchiolitis patientswas 0.57 (0-3.16) μg/ml. The median concentration of EBC magnesium levelsin the control group was 0.45 (0.06-2.66) μg/ml. There were no significantdifferences among the three groups (p>0.559). The magnesium levels of thetwo bronchiolitis groups were also found in a wide range. In conclusion,EBC magnesium levels were not different in bronchiolitis patients and donot reflect disease severity.