Premium
Relationship between exhaled nitric oxide and atopy in Asian young adults
Author(s) -
CHNG Seo Yi,
VAN BEVER Hugo P,
LIAN Derrick,
LEE Shan Xian,
XU Xin Ni,
WANG Xiao Shan,
GOH Daniel Yam Thiam
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
respirology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1440-1843
pISSN - 1323-7799
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1843.2005.00628.x
Subject(s) - exhaled nitric oxide , medicine , atopy , nitric oxide , exhalation , asthma , immunology , spirometry , anesthesia
Objectives: The relationship between exhaled nitric oxide and atopy is controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between exhaled nitric oxide (FE NO ) and atopy in Asian young adults. Methodology: Subjects were assessed by: (i) the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire to differentiate asthmatic from nonasthmatic and rhinitis from non‐rhinitis subjects; (ii) skin prick testing to 10 allergens; and (iii) FE NO measurements performed online at a flow rate of 50 mL/s. Results: Complete results were available for 84 subjects. FE NO values were highest in atopic asthmatics ( n = 34; median FE NO , 59.8 p.p.b.; interquartile range, 30.4–85.5 p.p.b), followed by atopic nonasthmatics ( n = 34; median, 38.4 p.p.b.; range, 16.7–49.3 p.p.b), nonatopic asthmatics ( n = 5; median, 19.1 p.p.b.; range, 17.9–33.4 p.p.b), and lowest in nonatopic nonasthmatics ( n = 11; median, 15.7 p.p.b.; range, 11.5–21.7 p.p.b). FE NO values were significantly higher in atopic ( n = 68; median, 44.7 p.p.b.; range, 27.3–75.2 p.p.b) compared to nonatopic subjects ( n = 16; median, 17.0 p.p.b.; range, 11.7–23.8 p.p.b.; P < 0.0001), regardless of asthma and rhinitis status. FE NO levels correlated with the severity of atopy (wheal size) for both asthmatic ( r = 0.44, P = 0.005) and nonasthmatic subjects ( r = 0.48, P = 0.001). There was no significant difference in FE NO levels between nonatopic asthmatics and nonatopic nonasthmatic subjects ( P = 0.25). Conclusions: Increased FE NO levels are more reflective of atopy rather than asthma, and increased nitric oxide production may be predominantly a feature of atopy in asthmatics.