Exhaled nitric oxide in children measured by tidal breathing method: differences between asthmatics and nonasthmatic controls.
The single-breath maneuver used to measure nitric oxide (NO) in adults cannot be performed by young children. We, therefore, developed a method of measuring NO in mixed exhaled gas collected during tidal breathing. NO was measured in mixed exhaled gas during 5 min of tidal breathing in 113 children 4-14 years of age: 22 nonasthmatics, 21 asthmatic children not taking inhaled corticosteroids, and 70 asthmatic children using inhaled corticosteroids. Exhaled NO levels (median, range) were significantly lower in nonasthmatic controls (median, range: 7, 2-10 ppb) than in asthmatic children on inhaled corticosteroids (8, 3-25 ppb; 95% CI for difference in medians with those of controls, 0-4 ppb), and in those not on inhaled corticosteroids (13, 6-37, ppb; 95% CI for difference in medians, 5-17 ppb). Asthmatic children not using inhaled corticosteroids had significantly higher exhaled NO levels than asthmatic children using inhaled corticosteroids (95% CI for difference in medians, 3-10 ppb). The tidal breathing method is a useful and practical way of measuring exhaled NO levels in children regardless of their age.
Visser
M J
MJ
Department of Paediatric Pulmonology, Beatrix Children's Hospital, University Hospital Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
de Wit
M C
MC
van Aalderen
W M
WM
Postma
D S
DS
Brand
P L
PL
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001944:Breath Tests / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis*; D012119:Respiration; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013990:Tidal Volume
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D009569:Nitric Oxide