Nitric oxide evaluation in upper and lower respiratory tracts in nasal polyposis

• Published in: Clinical and experimental allergy 2008-07, Vol.38 (7), p.1140-1147
• Main Authors: Delclaux, C., Malinvaud, D., Chevalier-Bidaud, B., Callens, E., Mahut, B., Bonfils, P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; airway hyperresponsiveness; Airway Obstruction - diagnosis; Airway Obstruction - physiopathology; alveolar nitric oxide concentration; Anti-Allergic Agents - therapeutic use; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - therapeutic use; Asthma - diagnosis; Asthma - physiopathology; Biological and medical sciences; Breath Tests; deep inspiration; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Humans; Male; maximum flux of nitric oxide from conducting airway; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Mometasone Furoate; nasal nitric oxide flux; Nasal Polyps - drug therapy; Nasal Polyps - physiopathology; Nitric Oxide - analysis; Otorhinolaryngology (head neck, general aspects and miscellaneous); Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Prednisolone - therapeutic use; Pregnadienediols - therapeutic use; Respiratory System - metabolism; Sarcoidosis. Granulomatous diseases of unproved etiology. Connective tissue diseases. Elastic tissue diseases. Vasculitis; Spirometry; Tumors
• ISSN: 0954-7894; 1365-2222
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2008.03006.x

Summary Background A decrease in nasal nitric oxide (NO) and an increase in exhaled NO have been demonstrated in patients with nasal polyposis (NP). Objectives The aims were to evaluate the flux of NO from the three compartments of the respiratory tract, namely, upper nasal, lower conducting and distal airways, and to search for relationships between NO parameters and indexes of upper and lower disease activity (bronchial reactivity and obstruction). The effect of medical treatment of polyposis was also evaluated. Methods Seventy patients with polyposis were recruited. At baseline, pulmonary function tests (spirometry, plethysmography, bronchomotor response to deep inspiration using forced oscillation measurement of resistance of respiratory system, methacholine challenge, multiple flow rates of exhaled NO and nasal NO measurements) were performed together with an assessment of polyposis [clinical, endoscopic and computed tomography (CT) scores]. Results Statistical relationships were demonstrated between nasal NO flux and severity scores (clinical: ρ=−0.31, P=0.015; endoscopic: ρ=−0.57, P