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Exhaled nitric oxide in children with asthma and sinusitis
Author(s) -
Carraro S.,
Gottardi G.,
Bonetto G.,
Baraldi E.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
pediatric allergy and immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.269
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1399-3038
pISSN - 0905-6157
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-3038.2007.00629.x
Subject(s) - medicine , exhaled nitric oxide , primary ciliary dyskinesia , asthma , asymptomatic , sinusitis , nitric oxide , eosinophilic , airway , anesthesia , gastroenterology , immunology , pathology , lung , bronchiectasis , spirometry
Exhaled nitric oxide (FE NO ) is a surrogate marker of eosinophilic airway inflammation. The measurement of this gas can be easily performed in children and the result is immediately available. Because of these characteristics, measurement of FE NO is slowly becoming part of the routine clinical evaluation of an asthmatic patient. FE NO measurement may have a role both in the diagnosis of asthma and as a guide in therapy algorithms. For example when FE NO levels are persistently normal and the asthmatic child is asymptomatic, the steroid therapy may be decreased or even stopped. In patients with acute or chronic rhinosinusitis the levels of nasal nitric oxide (nNO) are significantly decreased, while they rise up after a course of antibiotics. The measurement of nasal NO has been proposed as a functional test to evaluate sinus ventilation. Nasal NO is significantly reduced also in primary ciliary dyskinesia and can be used as a screening tool to identify patients affected by this condition.