Premium
Exhaled nitric oxide in healthy nonatopic school‐age children: Determinants and height‐adjusted reference values
Author(s) -
Malmberg L.P.,
Petäys T.,
Haahtela T.,
Laatikainen T.,
Jousilahti P.,
Vartiainen E.,
Mäkelä M.J.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
pediatric pulmonology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.866
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1099-0496
pISSN - 8755-6863
DOI - 10.1002/ppul.20417
Subject(s) - exhaled nitric oxide , medicine , atopy , spirometry , confidence interval , asthma , odds ratio , population , exhalation , pediatrics , immunology , anesthesia , environmental health
Exhaled nitric oxide (FE NO ) was proposed as a marker of airway inflammation, but data about FE NO in healthy children measured with standardized methods are so far limited. In order to assess the determinants of FE NO in healthy children, we investigated a population‐based sample of school‐age children (n = 276) with a questionnaire, skin‐prick tests, spirometry, and the measurement of FE NO . The FE NO of 114 nonatopic and nonsmoking children considered healthy were analyzed with stepwise multiple regression analysis, which showed significant associations with age, standing height, weight, and body surface area, but not with gender. Height was found to be the best independent variable for the regression equation for FE NO , which on average showed an increase in the height range of 120–180 cm from 7 to 14 ppb. In the random sample of children, increased FE NO was associated with atopy (odds ratio, 9.0; 95% confidence interval, 3.9–21.1; P < 0.0001), and significantly with allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis, but not with asthma. Respiratory symptom‐free children with skin‐prick test positivity had significantly higher FE NO than healthy nonatopic subjects. We conclude that height is the best determinant of FE NO in healthy children. Due to the strong effect of atopy, FE NO data should not be interpreted without knowing the atopic status of the child. The present reference values of FE NO may serve in clinical assessments for measuring airway inflammation in children. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2006; 41: 635–642. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.