title: Management of asthma in pregnancy guided by measurement of fraction of exhaled nitric oxide: a double-blind, randomised controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Asthma exacerbations during pregnancy are common and can be associated with substantial maternal and fetal morbidity. Treatment decisions based on sputum eosinophil counts reduce exacerbations in non-pregnant women with asthma, but results with the fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (F(E)NO) to guide management are equivocal. We tested the hypothesis that a management algorithm for asthma in pregnancy based on F(E)NO and symptoms would reduce asthma exacerbations.
  
  
  METHODS
  We undertook a double-blind, parallel-group, controlled trial in two antenatal clinics in Australia. 220 pregnant, non-smoking women with asthma were randomly assigned, by a computer-generated random number list, before 22 weeks' gestation to treatment adjustment at monthly visits by an algorithm using clinical symptoms (control group) or F(E)NO concentrations (active intervention group) used to uptitrate (F(E)NO >29 ppb) or downtitrate (F(E)NO <16 ppb) inhaled corticosteroid dose. Participants, caregivers, and outcome assessors were masked to group assignment. Longacting β2 agonist and minimum dose inhaled corticosteroid were used to treat symptoms when F(E)NO was not increased. The primary outcome was total asthma exacerbations (moderate and severe). Analysis was by intention to treat. This study is registered with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, number 12607000561482.
  
  
  RESULTS
  111 women were randomly assigned to the F(E)NO group (100 completed) and 109 to the control group (103 completed). The exacerbation rate was lower in the F(E)NO group than in the control group (0·288 vs 0·615 exacerbations per pregnancy; incidence rate ratio 0·496, 95% CI 0·325-0·755; p=0·001). The number needed to treat was 6. In the F(E)NO group, quality of life was improved (score on short form 12 mental summary was 56·9 [95% CI 50·2-59·3] in F(E)NO group vs 54·2 [46·1-57·6] in control group; p=0·037) and neonatal hospitalisations were reduced (eight [8%] vs 18 [17%]; p=0·046).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Asthma exacerbations during pregnancy can be significantly reduced with a validated F(E)NO-based treatment algorithm.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia.
authors: Centre for Asthma and Respiratory Diseases, University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW, Australia. heather.powell@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au
authors: Heather
authors: H
authors: Powell
authors: Vanessa E
authors: VE
authors: Murphy
authors: D Robin
authors: DR
authors: Taylor
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: Hensley
authors: Kirsten
authors: K
authors: McCaffery
authors: Warwick
authors: W
authors: Giles
authors: Vicki L
authors: VL
authors: Clifton
authors: Peter G
authors: PG
authors: Gibson
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000284:Administration, Oral; D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001944:Breath Tests; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019819:Budesonide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D000068759:Formoterol Fumarate; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D004983:Ethanolamines; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019819:Budesonide; D000068759:Formoterol Fumarate