Exhaled nitric oxide as a marker of atopic asthma

• Published in: Allergology international 2002-01, Vol.51 (1), p.47-53
• Main Authors: Korhonen, Kaj, Purokivi, Minna, Kotaniemi-Syrjänen, Anne, Reijonen, Tiina M, Vahteristo, Mikko, Korppi, Matti
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: asthma; atopy; children; cromone; exhaled nitric oxide; inhaled steroid; skin prick test
• ISSN: 1323-8930; 1440-1592
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1440-1592.2002.00247.x

The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of atopy and regular therapy for asthma on exhaled nitric oxide (eNO). Exhaled NO was measured using a chemi-luminescence analyzer during slow expiration in 83 children, aged 5-7 years, after hospitalization for wheezing in infancy. The mean (±SD) age of the subjects was 7.2 ± 0.7 years, 28% were girls and 42% were atopic. A total of 31 children (37%) had asthma with regular medication: 20 were taking cromones, and 11 were taking inhaled steroids. In the asthma group, the median concentration of eNO was 14.9 p.p.b. (range 3.5-56.1 p.p.b.) in atopics and 7.3 p.p.b. (range 5.1-15.6 p.p.b.) in non-atopics (P < 0.01). The levels for atopic children on cromones tended to be higher than for those on inhaled steroids; however, the difference did not reach statistical significance. We conclude that eNO concentrations associate significantly with atopic asthma.