title: Measurement of levels of fractional exhaled nitric oxide in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.
abstract: The role of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) in the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is uncertain.
  
  
  
  To examine the value of FeNO as a biomarker for PTB.
  
  
  
  Baseline FeNO levels were compared in 69 PTB patients and 118 healthy controls. The correlation between baseline FeNO levels and clinical variables of tuberculosis were studied. FeNO levels were checked twice in the PTB group, at diagnosis and after 2 months of anti-tuberculosis medication, and factors affecting changes in FeNO levels after treatment were analysed.
  
  
  
  FeNO levels were not significantly different in the PTB group and controls (mean ± standard deviation 27.7 ± 17.6 parts per billion [ppb] vs. 27.0 ± 10.8 ppb, P = 0.531). In a multivariate regression analysis, no variable was shown to affect FeNO levels at diagnosis. FeNO levels did not significantly change after 2 months of treatment (26.8 ± 18.3 ppb vs. 24.0 ± 10.7 ppb, P = 0.257). Only PTB with a high FeNO level (>25 ppb) was related to a decline in FeNO levels after 2 months of treatment.
  
  
  
  FeNO levels do not appear to be affected in PTB patients.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: J Y
authors: JY
authors: Yhi
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: D W
authors: DW
authors: Park
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: J-H
authors: JH
authors: Min
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Y K
authors: YK
authors: Park
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: S-H
authors: SH
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: T-H
authors: TH
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: J W
authors: JW
authors: Sohn
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: H J
authors: HJ
authors: Yoon
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: D H
authors: DH
authors: Shin
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: J-Y
authors: JY
authors: Moon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D001944:Breath Tests; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D045853:Exhalation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D009569:Nitric Oxide