[The effect of inhaled nitric oxide and helium-oxygen mixture on the pulmonary function of asthmatics].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of inhaled nitric oxide (NO) combined with helium-oxygen mixture on the pulmonary function of asthmatics.


METHODS
18 asthmatic patients were included in this study. The patients were divided into two groups randomly. One group of patients inhaled 100 ppm NO combined with helium-oxygen mixture, the other group inhaled 40 ppm NO-containing helium-oxygen mixture. Pulmonary function was examined intermittently during the study process and compared with that of the patients treated with salbutamol.


RESULTS
It is shown that inhalation of helium-oxygen mixture improved the forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume during the first 1.0 second (FEV(1)), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and maximal midexpiratory flow rate (MMEF) significantly as compared with inhalation of air. Although salbutamol inhalation improved FEV(1) and MMEF, the effect was weaker than helium-oxygen mixture inhalation. However the effect of helium-oxygen mixture lasted only one minute. Inhalation of 100 ppm NO with helium-oxygen mixture only slightly improved FEV(1) and PEFR as compared with inhalation of helium-oxygen mixture. 40 ppm NO with helium-oxygen mixture did not influence the pulmonary function in the asthmatic patient as compared with helium-oxygen mixture alone.


CONCLUSIONS
It is suggested that inhalation of helium-oxygen mixture can improve the pulmonary function of asthmatic patients significantly. However, inhalation of NO exerts a weak bronchodilatory effect.
Ma
Y
Y
Department of Respiratory Medicine, PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853.
Liu
Y
Y
Piao
Z
Z
Hao
F
F
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006371:Helium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation / Q000502:physiology*
D006371:Helium; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D010100:Oxygen