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Exhaled nitric oxide in childhood asthma
A Artlich1, J U Hagenah, S Jonas
1Klinik für Pädiatrie, Lübeck, Germany.
European Journal of Pediatrics
|August 1, 1996
Summary
Children with asthma show higher levels of orally exhaled nitric oxide (NO). This finding may help in understanding asthma-related inflammation in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Pulmonology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Nitric oxide (NO) is endogenously synthesized and present in exhaled air across species.
- Elevated NO levels are observed in adults with bronchial asthma, linked to pulmonary inflammation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate oral and nasal exhaled nitric oxide (NO) levels in children with and without bronchial asthma.
- To explore correlations between exhaled NO and lung function parameters in pediatric asthma.
Main Methods:
- Chemiluminescence was used to measure oral and nasal exhaled NO in 47 children (6-10 years).
- The study included 30 children with bronchial asthma and 17 healthy controls.
Main Results:
- Asthmatic children exhibited significantly higher oral exhaled NO (13.4 ± 1.4 ppb) compared to healthy controls (7.2 ± 1.0 ppb).
- Nasal exhaled NO levels did not significantly differ between the groups.
- A negative correlation was found between oral exhaled NO and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1).
Conclusions:
- Children diagnosed with bronchial asthma demonstrate significantly elevated levels of orally exhaled nitric oxide.
- Orally exhaled NO may serve as a potential biomarker for asthma-related inflammation in children.