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[Measurement of exhaled nitric oxide. A new lung function test?]
1Lungeavdelingen Rikshospitalet, Oslo.
Summary
Measuring nitric oxide (NO), a gas produced in the lungs, in exhaled air can help diagnose and monitor airway inflammation. This non-invasive test is simple and useful for patients with lung conditions like asthma.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Pulmonology
Context:
- Nitric oxide (NO) is an endogenous gas molecule produced in the lungs.
- NO synthase in airways is induced by proinflammatory cytokines and blocked by glucocorticoids.
- Elevated NO levels are observed in exhaled air of patients with inflammatory lung diseases.
Purpose:
- To explore the utility of measuring exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) for diagnosing and monitoring airway inflammation.
- To highlight the non-invasive nature and clinical applicability of eNO measurement.
Summary:
- Nitric oxide (NO) is a gas molecule detected in exhaled air, produced by inducible NO synthase in response to inflammation.
- Increased eNO concentrations are characteristic of inflammatory lung disorders such as asthma.
- Commercially available gas analyzers allow for simple, non-invasive measurement of eNO, even in patients with compromised lung function.
Impact:
- eNO measurement offers a unique, non-invasive method for diagnosing and monitoring airway inflammation.
- This technique has the potential to become a valuable clinical tool for respiratory medicine.
- Standardization efforts by the European Respiratory Society are paving the way for wider clinical adoption.