Glutathione deficiency of the lower respiratory tract in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a disease of unknown aetiology. Increased oxidant burden and antioxidant, e.g. glutathione (GSH), deficiency in the lower respiratory tract have been thought to play a role in the progression of IPF. Sputum induction is a safe noninvasive tool to study inflammation in the respiratory tract. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the direct measurement of GSH in induced sputum supernatant. Sixteen IPF patients and 15 healthy, nonsmoking subjects underwent sputum induction. Total GSH in sputum, saliva and plasma was measured spectrophotometrically. Sputum GSH was decreased more then four-fold in IPF patients when compared to healthy subjects (mean …