title: Elevated exhaled nitric oxide in anaphylaxis with respiratory symptoms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anaphylaxis is a serious type I allergic reaction that occurs suddenly and can result in death, but it is sometimes difficult to differentiate from other diseases, and physicians must rely on symptoms alone for its diagnosis. Meanwhile, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) concentration, used in assessing airway inflammation in bronchial asthma, is known to be affected by atopic disposition. The possible role of FeNO measurements was evaluated in patients with anaphylaxis.
  
  
  METHODS
  FeNO was measured in 52 adult patients (17-78 years old, median age 41.5 years) in whom anaphylaxis occurred. These measurements were made within 24 h after onset and after about one month when the patients were symptom-free. In some of these patients, FeNO was measured a third time, two months or more after onset.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The FeNO level in the 52 patients was not significantly different in measurement made within 24 h of onset of anaphylaxis and after one month. However, excluding 9 patients who also had asthma history, the FeNO level in the remaining 43 patients decreased significantly from within 24 h of onset (36.7 ± 27.5 ppb) to one month later (28.8 ± 19.5 ppb). Of these 43 patients, this phenomenon was evident in a group that had respiratory symptoms (31 patients), but it was not seen in a group that did not have respiratory symptoms (12 patients).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevation of FeNO was related to respiratory symptoms observed in anaphylactic patients without asthma. Although the mechanism of increased FeNO level is unclear, its usefulness for diagnosis of anaphylaxis must be examined in prospective studies.
authors.affiliation: Medical Center for Allergic and Immune Diseases, Yokohama City Minato Red Cross Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan. Electronic address: nakamura.alle@yokohama.jrc.or.jp.
authors.forename: Yoichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.affiliation: Medical Center for Allergic and Immune Diseases, Yokohama City Minato Red Cross Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hashiba
authors.affiliation: Medical Center for Allergic and Immune Diseases, Yokohama City Minato Red Cross Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Jyunji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Endo
authors.affiliation: Medical Center for Allergic and Immune Diseases, Yokohama City Minato Red Cross Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Furuie
authors.affiliation: Medical Center for Allergic and Immune Diseases, Yokohama City Minato Red Cross Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Isozaki
authors.affiliation: Emergency Medical Care Center, Yokohama City Minato Red Cross Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Kei-ichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yagi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D045853:Exhalation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D009569:Nitric Oxide
keywords: Anaphylaxis; Asthma; FeNO; NOS; Nitric oxide