Background: Urate levels may be a marker of oxidative stress. The aim of the present study was to find out are there any differences in urate concentrations in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) between children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and healthy children.
Materials and methods: EBC was collected in children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and clinically healthy children. Urate measurements in EBC and serum were performed by enzymatic color test.
Results: The higher concentration of urates in EBC of children with OSA than clinically healthy children indicate the oxidative stress in their airways. Since there was no significant difference in serum concentration of urates between children with OSA and healthy children, it could be considered that urates are sintetized in the airways of children with OSA.
Conclusions: The present study indicated that urates in EBC (but not in serum) may be used as a marker of local synthesis of antioxidant compounds, but definitive conclusion must be supported by investigations involving larger number of participants.