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Published on: May 4, 2021

Exhaled nitric oxide is not reduced in infants with cystic fibrosis

P J Franklin1, G L Hall, A Moeller

  • 1School of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Western Australia, GPO Box D184, Perth, 6480, Western Australia. peterf@ichr.uwa.edu.au

The European Respiratory Journal
|February 3, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is not reduced in infants with cystic fibrosis (CF). However, FeNO levels decrease with age in CF patients, indicating it is not a reliable marker for airway inflammation in this population.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Respiratory Medicine
  • Biomarker Research

Background:

  • Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) levels are reportedly reduced in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients.
  • Conflicting data exist regarding FeNO in young children with CF, leaving its role as a primary disease feature or secondary response unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare FeNO levels between infants with CF and healthy infants.
  • To investigate the relationship between FeNO, age, and airway inflammation markers in infants with CF.

Main Methods:

  • A validated single-breath technique was used to measure FeNO in 23 healthy infants and 18 infants with CF.
  • Lung function tests were performed on all participants.
  • Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was collected from CF infants to assess airway inflammation.

Main Results:

  • No significant difference in FeNO was observed between CF infants and healthy infants.
  • An inverse relationship between age and FeNO was found in CF patients, but not in healthy controls.
  • No association was found between FeNO and BAL markers of airway inflammation in CF infants.

Conclusions:

  • FeNO is not reduced in infants with cystic fibrosis.
  • FeNO levels decrease with increasing age in infants with CF.
  • FeNO is not a suitable marker for assessing airway inflammation in infants with cystic fibrosis.

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