Daily home measurements of exhaled nitric oxide in asthmatic children during natural birch pollen exposure - 20/08/11
Copenhagen, Denmark
Abstract |
Background |
Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) is a sensitive marker of eosinophilic airway inflammation in asthma. Available methods have restricted measurements to the clinic, giving only a snapshot of the disease, which by nature is highly variable.
Objectives |
We sought to investigate the feasibility, repeatability, accuracy, sensitivity, and biologic plausibility of new handheld equipment for FENO measurements. We studied day-to-day home measurements of FENO during the birch pollen season in children with allergy to birch pollen and a history of mild asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis during this season, as well as in nonatopic children.
Methods |
Eleven children with mild asthma and allergy to birch pollen, performed daily home measurements of FENO for 6 weeks before and during the birch pollen season by using a handheld FENO monitor (NIOX MINO). Additionally, FENO (chemiluminescence equipment [NIOX]) and spirometry were measured at the inclusion and completion visit in the clinic. Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and symptoms were recorded daily.
Results |
Daily FENO (NIOX MINO) increased significantly (P < .001) with increasing pollen count. FENO (NIOX MINO) and FENO (NIOX) exhibited a correlation coefficient of 0.98, but FENO (NIOX MINO) was significantly higher than FENO (NIOX) (P < .01). PEFR and FEV1 remained unchanged, and few symptoms were recorded.
Conclusion |
Exhaled nitric oxide levels increased significantly during the pollen season, even though the patients reported only few asthmatic symptoms and no change in PEFR or spirometry. Daily measurements of FENO (NIOX MINO) might allow early detection of disease deterioration, and future studies could address such a measure for dynamic treatment strategies.
Clinical implications |
This simple handheld device expands the potential use of FENO to a wider group of asthma clinics and even home measurements.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Key words : Asthma, child, fractional exhaled nitric oxide, home monitoring, handheld, pollen
Abbreviations used : ATS, FENO, ICS, PEFR
Plan
| Aerocrine AB provided the NIOX and NIOX MINO for the study. Disclosure of potential conflict of interest: H. Bisgaard has received honoraria for lectures and advisory boards from Aerocrine, Altana, AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, and Merck and has received grant support from Aerocrine, Merck, GlaxoSmithKline, and AstraZeneca. K. Skamstrup has received grant support from Schering-Plough, Pharmacia, and Mead Johnson; has given lectures and courses for ALK-Abelló, Schering-Plough, and Mead Johnson; and has received travel grants from AstraZeneca and Mead Johnson. The rest of the authors have declared that they have no conflict of interest. Reprints will not be available from the authors. |
Vol 117 - N° 6
P. 1272-1276 - juin 2006 Retour au numéro
Article précédent
- Bronchodilation and bronchoconstriction: Predictors of future lung function in childhood asthma
- Kelan G. Tantisira, Anne L. Fuhlbrigge, James Tonascia, Mark Van Natta, Robert S. Zeiger, Robert C. Strunk, Stanley J. Szefler, Scott T. Weiss, for the Childhood Asthma Management Program Research Group ∗
- Anti-IgE: Lessons learned from effects on airway inflammation and asthma exacerbation
- John V. Fahy
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