Proof of Concept: Very Rapid Tidal Breathing Nasal Nitric Oxide Sampling Discriminates Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia from Healthy Subjects
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Updated: Jan 29, 2026

A Novel Inhalation Mask System to Deliver High Concentrations of Nitric Oxide Gas in Spontaneously Breathing Subjects
Published on: May 4, 2021
Mathias G Holgersen1, June K Marthin1, Kim G Nielsen2
1Danish PCD & chILD Centre, CF Centre Copenhagen, Paediatric Pulmonary Service, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Introduction:
Nasal nitric oxide (nNO) is extremely low in individuals with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) and is recommended as part of early workup. We investigated whether tidal breathing sampling for a few seconds was as discriminative between PCD and healthy controls (HC) as conventional tidal breathing sampling (cTB-nNO) for 20-30 s.
Methods:
We performed very rapid sampling of tidal breathing (vrTB-nNO) for 2, 4 and 6 s, respectively. Vacuum sampling with applied negative pressure (vrTB-nNOvac; negative pressure was applied by pinching the sampling tube) for < 2 s resulted in enhanced suction of nasal air during measurement. Feasibility, success rate, discriminatory capacity, repeatability and agreement were assessed for all four sampling modalities.
Results:
We included 13 patients with PCD, median (IQR) age of 21.8 (12.2-27.7) years and 17 HC, 25.3 (14.5-33.4) years. Measurements were highly feasible (96.7% success rate). Measured NO values with vrTB-nNO modalities differed significantly from TB-nNO measurements (HC: p < 0.001, PCD: p < 0.05). All modalities showed excellent discrimination. The vacuum method gave remarkably high values of nNO in both groups (1865 vs. 86 ppb), but retained excellent discrimination. vrTB-nNO4sec, vrTB-nNO6sec and vrTB-nNOvac showed identical specificity to cTB-nNO (all: 1.0, 95% CI 0.77-1.0).
Conclusion:
vrTB-nNO sampling requires only a few seconds of probe-in-nose time, is feasible, and provides excellent discrimination between PCD and HC. Rapid TB-nNO sampling needs standardisation and further investigations in infants, young children and patients referred for PCD workup.
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