title: Nasal nitric oxide in allergic rhinitis in children and its relationship to severity and treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nasal nitrous oxide (nNO) is increased in allergic rhinitis (AR), but not in asthma, and is a non-invasive marker for inflammation in the nasal passages.
  
  
  METHODS
  Levels of nNO were measured and compared in healthy children and children with mild and moderate-to-severe AR. Levels of nNO before and after treatment with steroids and/or antihistamine were then compared in the 2 AR groups. Their relationship to quality of life and nasal symptom and reactivity to outdoor and outdoor allergens were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  nNO levels were higher in mild AR than in healthy children and higher in moderate-to-severe AR than in mild AR. One month steroid and/or antihistamine treatment lowered nNO levels to control levels in mild AR and approximately halfway to control levels in moderate-to-severe AR. nNO levels had a weak correlation to quality of life questions and a fair correlation to nasal symptom scores before treatment. This correlation was weakened or lost after treatment, and no correlation was seen between nNO levels and responses to indoor or outdoor allergens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  nNO levels in children with AR may be useful for assessing the response to treatment. Their relationship to quality of life, nasal symptoms, and sensitivity to specific allergens needs further study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, 56 Nan Li Shi Road Xi Cheng District, Beijing, 100045 People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Peng-Peng
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, 56 Nan Li Shi Road Xi Cheng District, Beijing, 100045 People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Gui-Xiang
authors.initials: GX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, 56 Nan Li Shi Road Xi Cheng District, Beijing, 100045 People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wen-Tong
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, 56 Nan Li Shi Road Xi Cheng District, Beijing, 100045 People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Li-Xing
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, 56 Nan Li Shi Road Xi Cheng District, Beijing, 100045 People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, 56 Nan Li Shi Road Xi Cheng District, Beijing, 100045 People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ni
keywords: Allergic rhinitis; Nasal symptoms; Quality of life; nNO