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Pediatric biomarkers in asthma: exhaled nitric oxide, sputum eosinophils and leukotriene E4

Shaila Gogate1, Rohit Katial

  • 1National Jewish Medical and Research Center, 1400 Jackson Street, Denver, CO 80206, USA.

Current Opinion in Allergy and Clinical Immunology
|March 5, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Biomarkers like fractional exhaled nitric oxide and sputum eosinophils can help manage childhood asthma. These, along with urinary leukotriene E4, aid in assessing airway inflammation and improving asthma control.

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonary Medicine
  • Biomarker Research
  • Pediatric Asthma

Background:

  • Biomarkers are increasingly used to quantify disease activity in medicine.
  • Established biomarkers exist for cardiac and kidney function.
  • New biomarkers are being explored to assess and manage airway inflammation in asthma.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the utility of three key biomarkers for assessing asthma inflammation.
  • To evaluate fractional exhaled nitric oxide, sputum eosinophils, and leukotriene E4.
  • To determine their role in guiding asthma treatment, particularly in children.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent literature on asthma biomarkers.
  • Analysis of fractional exhaled nitric oxide measurements.
  • Assessment of sputum eosinophil counts.
  • Measurement of leukotriene E4 in urine and exhaled breath condensate.

Main Results:

  • Fractional exhaled nitric oxide, sputum eosinophils, and leukotriene E4 are effective markers of airway inflammation in asthma.
  • Combining these biomarkers with conventional lung function tests improves asthma control in children.
  • Urinary leukotriene E4 and exhaled nitric oxide are clinically accessible.

Conclusions:

  • Fractional exhaled nitric oxide and urinary leukotriene E4 are practical for clinical use.
  • Sputum eosinophils are valuable but may be challenging to obtain in young children.
  • These biomarkers, despite minor limitations, are beneficial adjuncts to conventional asthma management.
Abstract

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