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Exhaled nitric oxide is age-dependent in asthma
Avraham Avital1, Kamal Uwyyed, Neville Berkman
1Institute of Pulmonology, Hadassah University Hospital and Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel. avital@hadassah.org.il
Pediatric Pulmonology
|October 2, 2003
Summary
Exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) levels in asthmatic patients increase significantly with age. This study found lower eNO values in young children with asthma compared to older individuals.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by airway inflammation.
- Exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) is a biomarker of airway inflammation.
- The relationship between eNO levels and age in asthmatic patients requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) levels in asthmatic patients are dependent on age.
- To correlate eNO measurements obtained via different methods.
Main Methods:
- Eighty-seven asthmatic patients aged 2-41 years were studied.
- Asthma diagnosis was confirmed using adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP) hyperreactivity.
- Exhaled NO was measured using tidal breathing method (TBm) in children and slow vital capacity method (SVCm) in older patients.
Main Results:
- A significant positive correlation was found between eNO levels and age in asthmatic patients (P < 0.0001).
- No significant difference in AMP reactivity was observed across age groups (P = 0.35).
- A strong correlation (r = 0.96) was established between TBm and SVCm for eNO measurement.
Conclusions:
- Exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) levels in asthmatic patients are significantly age-dependent.
- Younger children with asthma exhibit lower eNO levels compared to older asthmatic individuals.