title: Nasal nitric oxide is a marker of poor asthma control.
abstract: Asthma control, evaluated by symptoms, exacerbations rate and lung function may be greatly influenced by comorbidities, particularly chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Measurement of nasal nitric oxide (nNO) is a simple way to assess the severity of CRS. We aimed to analyze the relationship between asthma control and nasal NO. All patients with moderate-to-severe asthma on regular follow-up at our Outpatients' Clinic between November 2009 and April 2010 were included into the study. All patients were evaluated for asthma control by asthma control questionnaire (ACQ) and comorbidities (rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis with (CRSwNP) or without nasal polyps, obesity). Exhaled nitric oxide and nNO were obtained in all patients. Eighty-two patients were enrolled (mean age: 48 years, range: 21-80; 42 females). According to ACQ, 53 patients (64.6%) reported controlled asthma. Patients with uncontrolled asthma had lower nNO and higher prevalence of CRSwNP, with a significant correlation between nNO and ACQ. nNO is a biomarker negatively related to asthma control. As low nNO values were associated to CRSwNP, our results indicate that asthma control is highly influenced by this comorbidity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Science, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of Torino, AO Mauriziano 'Umberto I', Torino, Italy. enrico_heffler@yahoo.it
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Heffler
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pizzimenti
authors.forename: Iuliana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Badiu
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guida
authors.forename: Fabio Luigi Massimo
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Ricciardolo
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bucca
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rolla
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001944:Breath Tests / Q000379:methods; D045853:Exhalation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000737:chemistry*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D009569:Nitric Oxide