Lipoxins could be potential modulators of inflammation in the lungs. To our knowledge, the role of exhaled breath condensate (EBC) lipoxin A4 (LXA4) in asthmatic children with exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) has not been investigated. The aim of our study was to determine the involvement of EBC LXA4 in EIB. Forty-five patients aged between 5 and 17 years were included in the study. Patients were divided into 2 groups: asthmatic children with a positive response to exercise (n = 17)

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... d asthmatic children with a negative response to exercise (n = 28). Levels of LXA4 were determined in EBC before and immediately after the exercise challenge using ELISA. EBC LXA4 levels were significantly increased immediately after exercise in asthmatic children with a positive response to the exercise challenge (P = .05). No significant differences were observed in children with a negative response to exercise (P > .05). There was an inverse correlation between LXA4 levels and the percent degree of reduction in forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1%) postexercise in children with a positive exercise challenge (P = .05, r = -0.50). No significant differences were observed in LXA4 levels between atopic and nonatopic asthmatics (P > .05, Mann-Whitney U test). Levels of EBC LXA4 increased immediately after exercise in asthmatic children with a positive exercise challenge response. We hypothesize that airway LXA4 levels increase to compensate bronchoconstriction and suppress acute inflammation, and that spontaneous bronchodilatation after EIB may be due to LXA4.