Altered levels of exhaled nitric oxide in rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by bone and joint destruction, but other organ systems can also be involved. Recent studies have suggested that the disease may start in the lungs. Exhaled nitric oxide (F_ENO) is a marker of inflammation. The aims of the study were to compare the NO parameters between subjects with RA and healthy control subjects, and to examine whether the NO parameters correlated with lung function and disease activity in the subjects with RA.

Subjects with RA (n = 35) were recruited during their regular outpatient visits to the rheumatology department. The nitric oxide (NO) parameters: alveolar NO concentration (C_ANO), airway compartment diffusing capacity of NO (D_awNO), and tissue concentration of NO in the airway wall (C_awNO), were algorithmically estimated. Healthy subjects (n = 35) matched by age, gender and height were used as controls. Data are given in median, (quartile 25, 75). Wilcoxon Matched Pairs test was used for group comparisons. Mann-Whitney U test was used to make comparisons between any two groups and for pairwise comparisons. Correlations were tested with Spearman rank order correlation.

C_ANO was significantly lower in the RA subjects compared with healthy subjects; 1.1 (0.5, 1.8) ppb versus 2.4 (2.0, 3.0) ppb, (p < 0.001). C_awNO was significantly lower in the RA subjects with 51 (22, 87) ppb versus 120 (76, 162) ppb in the control group. D_awNO was significantly higher at 25 (15, 36) mL/s in the RA group versus the control group's 7.7 (5.3, 10.7) mL/s.

There are significant differences between subjects with RA and matched healthy control subjects regarding the exhaled NO parameters. It is unclear if this can be explained by the pathogenesis of RA, consequences of long-term disease, and/or due to drug treatment.