Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 22, 2026

A Novel Inhalation Mask System to Deliver High Concentrations of Nitric Oxide Gas in Spontaneously Breathing Subjects
05:46

A Novel Inhalation Mask System to Deliver High Concentrations of Nitric Oxide Gas in Spontaneously Breathing Subjects

Published on: May 4, 2021

[Exhaled nitric oxide in children under 4 years of age with recurrent bronchitis]

Inés de Mir Messa1, Antonio Moreno Galdó, Nicolás Cobos Barroso

  • 1Unidad de Neumología Pediátrica y Fibrosis Quística, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, España. fernandezdemir@gmail.com

Archivos De Bronconeumologia
|June 9, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FE(NO)) was higher in preschool children with recurrent bronchitis compared to controls. This marker of bronchial inflammation showed a correlation with eosinophil counts.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Respiratory Medicine
  • Biomarkers

Background:

  • Recurrent bronchitis is common in preschool children.
  • Assessing bronchial inflammation is crucial for diagnosis and management.
  • Exhaled nitric oxide (NO) is a non-invasive marker of airway inflammation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate bronchial inflammation in preschool children with recurrent bronchitis.
  • To measure fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FE(NO)) as an indicator of inflammation.
  • To compare FE(NO) levels between children with recurrent bronchitis and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

  • Included 63 preschool children (under 4 years) with recurrent wheezing and 30 controls.
  • Measured FE(NO) using samples collected during tidal breathing via a face mask.
  • Analyzed FE(NO) in relation to corticosteroid treatment, eosinophil counts, and methacholine challenge tests.

Main Results:

  • FE(NO) was significantly higher in children with recurrent bronchitis (5.3 ppb) versus controls (4.6 ppb).
  • Higher FE(NO) levels correlated with elevated eosinophil counts (>400 microL).
  • No significant difference in FE(NO) was found between controls and corticosteroid-treated patients.

Conclusions:

  • A slight increase in FE(NO) was observed in preschool children with recurrent wheezing bronchitis.
  • FE(NO) may serve as a biomarker for bronchial inflammation in this population.
  • Further research is needed to clarify the clinical utility of FE(NO) in managing recurrent bronchitis in young children.
Abstract

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