Impaired FEF25-75 may predict high exhaled nitric oxide values in children with allergic rhinitis and/or asthma.
Allergic rhinitis and asthma are closely associated. Inflammation is a common pathological characteristic shared by both disorders. The measure of the fractional concentration of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) may be considered a surrogate marker for airway inflammation. Forced expiratory flow between 25 and 75 percent of vital capacity (FEF25-75) has been previously demonstrated to be able to predict BHR and bronchial reversibility. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether impaired FEF25-75 values may be related to FeNO values in a pediatric cohort of allergic subjects. 850 children with allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, or both, were evaluated. Bronchial function (FEV1, FVC, and FEF25-75), FeNO, and sensitizations were assessed. Bronchial function and FeNO were significantly different in the 3 groups (p less than 0.001). A strong inverse correlation between FeNO and FEV1was found in patients with rhinitis, asthma and asthma with rhinitis (r= -0.72, r=-0.70 and r= -0.70, respectively). Impaired FEF25-75 values (such as less than 65 percent of predicted) were significantly associated with high FeNO levels (such as =34 ppb). In conclusion, this study provided evidence that FEF25-75 is strongly and inversely related with FeNO and FEF25-75 may predict high FeNO levels in children with allergic rhinitis, asthma or both.
Department of Internal Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino, Genoa, Italy. gio.cio@libero.it
G
G
Ciprandi
M A
MA
Tosca
I
I
Cirillo
E
E
Lionetti
S
S
Leonardi
M
M
Miraglia Del Giudice
M
M
La Rosa
A
A
Salpietro
M
M
Capasso
G L
GL
Marseglia
D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001944:Breath Tests; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008450:Maximal Midexpiratory Flow Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000503:physiopathology*
D009569:Nitric Oxide