IL-5, IL-8 and MMP -9 levels in exhaled breath condensate of atopic and nonatopic asthmatic children

IL-5 levels, as a marker of eosinophilic inflammation, were demonstrated to be higher in the children with atopic asthma when compared to those with nonatopic asthma in EBC. The fact that no significant difference was apparent in the IL-8 levels between the groups suggests that it is the severity of the disease rather than the atopic state that plays an important role in IL-8 levels. Since no difference was recorded between the groups in terms of MMP-9 levels, lung damage in asthma sufferers seems to develop independent of atopia.