This study will aim to investigate the levels of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) 8-isoprostane in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients' exhaled breath condensate (EBC). EBC samples will be collected using RTube, prior to analysis for levels of 8-isoprostane. An acceptability assessment will be performed for this non-invasive method of EBC collection through a non-validated questionnaire.~A regression analysis will then be performed for 8-isoprostane levels against the severity of the patient's cough, assessed through the use of the visual analogue scale for cough (VAS), the King's brief interstitial lung disease questionnaire (KBILD), the Medical Research Council (MRC) dyspnoea scale and the Leicester cough questionnaire. Alongside this an exploratory comparison of cough scores and 8 isoprostane concentration between patients with and without honeycombing and traction bronchiectasis.
Analysis of exhaled breath condensate biomarkers and cough severity in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.