Is there a correlation between the changes in airway inflammation and the changes in respiratory mechanics after vaping in patients with asthma?

Serafeim-Chrysovalantis Kotoulas; Kalliopi Domvri; Alexandros Tsantos; Ioanna Papagiouvanni; Anastasia Michailidou; Dionisios G Spyratos; Konstantinos Porpodis; Ioanna Grigoriou; Despina Papakosta; Athanasia Pataka

doi:10.5662/wjm.v14.i2.89284

Is there a correlation between the changes in airway inflammation and the changes in respiratory mechanics after vaping in patients with asthma?

World J Methodol. 2024 Jun 20;14(2):89284. doi: 10.5662/wjm.v14.i2.89284.

Affiliations

¹ Intensive Care Unit, Hippokration General Hospital, Thessaloniki 54642, Greece. akiskotoulas@hotmail.com.
² Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 57010, Greece.
³ 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, General Hospital of Thessaloniki ''Ippokration'', Thessaloniki 54642, Greece.
⁴ Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54642, Thessaloniki, Greece.
⁵ 2nd Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, General Hospital of Thessaloniki "Ippokration", Thessaloniki 54642, Greece.
⁶ Department of Pulmonary, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 57001, Greece.
⁷ Respiratory Failure Clinic, Papanikolaou General Hospital, Thessloniki 57001, Greece.
⁸ Department of Respiratory Medicine, Aristotle Univ Thessaloniki, Sch Med, G Papanikolaou Hosp, Resp Failure Unit, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 57001, Greece.

Abstract

Background: Electronic cigarettes (ECs) have been promoted as alternatives to traditional cigarettes.

Aim: To investigate ECs' effects on respiratory system, especially in patients with respiratory diseases.

Methods: We randomly selected 25 smokers with stable moderate asthma and matched them with 25 healthy smokers. All were subjucted to pulmonary function tests (PFTs), impulse oscillometry (IOS), fraction exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO), exhaled breathe condensate (EBC) and biomarker measurements before and after vaping one nicotine-containing EC.

Results: The increase in FeNO 30 minutes after EC, reflecting airway inflammation, significantly correlated with increase of residual volume (RV), total lung capacity, respiratory impedance at 5 Hz (Z5Hz) and respiratory resistance at 5 and 20 Hz (R5Hz and R20Hz). No significant correlations were found between EBC biomarkers' changes and respiratory mechanics.

Conclusion: This is the first study demonstrating that the changes in airway inflammation caused by EC have direct effects in respiratory mechanics of asthmatic patients.

Keywords: Airway inflammation; Asthma; Electronic cigarette; FeNO; Impulse oscillometry; Lung function.

Publication types

Clinical Trial