Assessment of airway inflammation with exhaled NO measurement

Hippokratia 2007, 11(2):51-62

E Hatziagorou, J Tsanakas
3rd Paediatric Dpt, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Paediatric Pulmonology Unit, Hippokration Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece


Abstract

Assessing airway inflammation is important for in­ves­ti­gating the underlying mechanisms of many lung dis­eases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchiectasis, primary ciliary dys­ki­ne­sia (PCD) and cystic fibrosis. A growing interest has recently directed toward non-invasive methods for the assessment of airway in­flammation.
Measurement of exhaled nitric oxide in exhaled air is an exciting inno­vative technique that gives new insights into the patho­physi­ology of lung disease and asthma in particular, with many potential clinical applications. Careful standardisation of measurement techniques has fa­cili­tated the use of this new measurement in paediatric res­pi­ratory medicine. Non-inva­siveness and instantaneous results potentially make it a suitable instrument for use in children starting from the age of 4, with useful appli­cations both in asthma diagnosis and monitoring

Keywords: asthma, exhaled nitric oxide, airway in­flammation, non-invasive monitoring, primary ciliary dys­ki­ne­sia, cystic fibrosis

Correspoding author: Hatziagorou E, 6 Plutarchou str, 55236, Panorama, Thessaloniki, Greece, e:mail: elpcon@otenet. gr, tel: + 30 2310 347586