title: [Significance of fractional exhaled nitric oxide in the diagnosis of asthma in pregnant women].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the variability of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and to explore the significances of FeNO in the diagnosis and treatment of asthma in pregnant women.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective study, 65 healthy pregnant women, 55 asthmatic non-pregnant women, 40 asthmatic pregnant women and 60 healthy non-pregnant women were enrolled in the study from Oct 2012 to Apr 2014.FeNO levels of the 4 groups were compared, and the variability of FeNO in different pregnancy periods of 15 healthy pregnant women were examined.We also analyzed the correlation between the level of FeNO, FEV1% pred, asthma control test (ACT) scores andblood eosinophils in patients of asthmatic pregnant women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The difference in the levels of FeNO between healthy pregnant women (12 ± 6) ppb and healthy non-pregnant women (14 ± 5) ppb were no significant (t = 0.508, P > 0.05) . The levels of FeNO in different pregnancy periods of healthy pregnant women were not significantly different (F = 0.656, P > 0.05). Compared with healthy pregnant women (12 ± 6) ppb, the level of FeNO was significantly higher in asthmatic pregnant patients (43 ± 21) ppb (t = 2.981, P < 0.05) , but the difference of the levels of FeNO between asthmatic non-pregnant (51 ± 32) ppb and pregnant patients (43 ± 21) ppb were no significant (t = 0.366, P > 0.05) . There was no significant correlation between FeNO level and FEV1% pred (r = 0.164, P > 0.05), nor between FeNO level and ACT scores (r = 0.272, P > 0.05) , but there was significant correlation between FeNO level and eosinophils (r = 0.723, P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FeNO level is not influenced by pregnancy and different gestation periods.FeNO level in asthmatic pregnant women is increased, and FeNO is an important examination in the diagnosis of asthma during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang 325027, China.
authors.forename: Liqin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang 325027, China.
authors.forename: Zhixiong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang 325027, China. Email:daiyr@126.com.
authors.forename: Yuanrong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang 325027, China.
authors.forename: Fengqin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001944:Breath Tests; D004804:Eosinophils; D045853:Exhalation; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis*; D011241:Prednisone; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide; D011241:Prednisone