title: Noninvasive methods for the detection of upper and lower airway inflammation in atopic children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exhaled nitric oxide (FE(NO)) and exhaled breath condensate (EBC) are noninvasive methods to assess inflammation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the role of the FE(NO) and of the EBC pH and IL-5 levels in atopic children.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated oral and nasal FE(NO) and the pH and IL-5 of oral and nasal EBC in children with atopic dermatitis (AD; n = 18), allergic rhinitis (AR; n = 18), intermittent asthma (n = 21), moderate persistent asthma (n = 18), and healthy controls (HCs; n = 16).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Oral FE(NO) was significantly increased in asthma, whereas the nasal values were increased in AR and asthma in comparison with HCs. The pH of oral EBC was lower in AD and asthma than in AR and HCs, whereas the nasal levels were lower in AD, AR, and asthma than in HCs. The oral IL-5 was higher in AD, AR, and asthma in comparison with HCs, whereas the nasal IL-5 concentrations were higher in asthma and AR than in HCs. In AR, the nasal FE(NO) correlated with the IL-5 values and with the disease duration. In intermittent asthma, oral and nasal pH inversely correlated with the exacerbations, whereas in moderate asthma, the nasal IL-5 positively correlated with exacerbations. In AD, the oral and nasal IL-5 positively correlated with the serum IgE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These markers of nasal and bronchial inflammation, accessible with noninvasive techniques, might be useful to identify patients with uncontrolled diseases and to verify the usefulness of new therapeutic approaches.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These markers are useful tools to monitor the upper and lower airway inflammation in atopic children.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology, Section of Immunopathology and Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology of the Respiratory System, Italian National Research Council, Palermo, Italy. profita@ibim.cnr.it <profita@ibim.cnr.it>
authors.forename: Mirella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Profita
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: La Grutta
authors.forename: Elisiana
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carpagnano
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Riccobono
authors.forename: Rossana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Di Giorgi
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonanno
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pace
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bonsignore
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bousquet
authors.forename: Antonio Maurizio
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Vignola
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gjomarkaj
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D045853:Exhalation / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D015848:Interleukin-5; D009569:Nitric Oxide