title: Exhaled nitric oxide in paediatric asthma and cystic fibrosis.
abstract: Nitric oxide (NO) is present in exhaled air of humans. This NO is mostly produced in the upper airways, whereas basal NO excretion in the lower airways is low. Children with Kartagener's syndrome have an almost total lack of NO in nasally derived air, whereas adult asthmatics have increased NO in orally exhaled air. NO excretion was measured in the nasal cavity and in orally exhaled air in 19 healthy children, in 36 age matched subjects with asthma, and in eight children with cystic fibrosis. NO levels in orally exhaled air were similar in controls and in children with cystic fibrosis, at 4.8 (SD 1.2) v 5.8 (0.8) parts per billion (ppb), but were increased in asthmatic children who were untreated or were being treated only with low doses of inhaled steroids (13.8 (2.5) ppb). Nasal NO levels were reduced by about 70% in children with cystic fibrosis compared to controls and asthmatics. Measurements of airway NO release in different parts of the airways may be useful in non-invasive diagnosis and monitoring of inflammatory airway diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Lundberg
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Nordvall
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Weitzberg
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kollberg
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alving
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D001944:Breath Tests; D019819:Budesonide; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D007619:Kartagener Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis*; D009666:Nose; D011282:Pregnenediones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D011282:Pregnenediones; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019819:Budesonide