|
|
||||||||
Dept of Respiratory Medicine and Thoracic Surgery, Institute for Lung Health, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK
CORRESPONDENCE: M. Berry, Dept of Respiratory Medicine and Thoracic Surgery, Institute for Lung Health, Glenfield Hospital, Groby Road, Leicester LE3 9QP, UK. Fax: 44 1162367768. E-mail: mike_berry@blueyonder.co.uk
Keywords: Asthma, asthma mechanisms, asthma severity
Received: November 19, 2004
Accepted March 11, 2005
Recent studies have suggested that alveolar nitric oxide (NO) concentration is a noninvasive test of distal lung inflammation.
The current study determined whether alveolar NO concentration can be measured in patients with asthma of varying severity, tested the hypothesis that there is an association between alveolar NO and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) eosinophil count and determined whether refractory asthma is characterised by a raised alveolar NO concentration. Finally, the present authors assessed the effect of 2 weeks of prednisolone (30 mg q.d.) on alveolar NO concentration.
Alveolar NO concentration was both measurable and repeatable in patients with refractory asthma. A positive correlation was found between alveolar NO concentration and BAL eosinophil count but not with bronchial wash or sputum eosinophil count. Alveolar NO concentration was increased in patients with refractory asthma (7.1 ppb) compared with mild-to-moderate asthma (3.4 ppb) and normal controls (3.4 ppb) and reduced by treatment with prednisolone.
In conclusion, these findings support the hypothesis that alveolar nitric oxide is a measure of distal airway inflammation and suggest that distal lung inflammation is present in refractory asthma.
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
Y. Kerckx, A. Michils, and A. Van Muylem Airway contribution to alveolar nitric oxide in healthy subjects and stable asthma patients J Appl Physiol, April 1, 2008; 104(4): 918 - 924. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. C. George How accurately should we estimate the anatomical source of exhaled nitric oxide? J Appl Physiol, April 1, 2008; 104(4): 909 - 911. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P. Bradding Mast cell regulation of airway smooth muscle function in asthma Eur. Respir. J., May 1, 2007; 29(5): 827 - 830. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. Siva, R. H. Green, C. E. Brightling, M. Shelley, B. Hargadon, S. McKenna, W. Monteiro, M. Berry, D. Parker, A. J. Wardlaw, et al. Eosinophilic airway inflammation and exacerbations of COPD: a randomised controlled trial Eur. Respir. J., May 1, 2007; 29(5): 906 - 913. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. Brindicci, K. Ito, P. J. Barnes, and S. A. Kharitonov Differential Flow Analysis of Exhaled Nitric Oxide in Patients With Asthma of Differing Severity Chest, May 1, 2007; 131(5): 1353 - 1362. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
K. Roy, Z. L. Borrill, C. Starkey, A. L. Hazel, J. Morris, J. Vestbo, and D. Singh Use of different exhaled nitric oxide multiple flow rate models in COPD Eur. Respir. J., April 1, 2007; 29(4): 651 - 659. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
H.-W. Shin, D. A. Shelley, E. M. Henderson, A. Fitzpatrick, B. Gaston, and S. C. George Airway nitric oxide release is reduced after PBS inhalation in asthma J Appl Physiol, March 1, 2007; 102(3): 1028 - 1033. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
D. Menzies, A. Nair, P. A. Williamson, S. Schembri, M. Z. H. Al-Khairalla, M. Barnes, T. C. Fardon, L. McFarlane, G. J. Magee, and B. J. Lipworth Respiratory symptoms, pulmonary function, and markers of inflammation among bar workers before and after a legislative ban on smoking in public places. JAMA, October 11, 2006; 296(14): 1742 - 1748. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
D R Taylor, M W Pijnenburg, A D Smith, and J C D Jongste Exhaled nitric oxide measurements: clinical application and interpretation Thorax, September 1, 2006; 61(9): 817 - 827. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. F. Gelb, C. Flynn Taylor, C. M. Shinar, C. Gutierrez, and N. Zamel Role of Spirometry and Exhaled Nitric Oxide To Predict Exacerbations in Treated Asthmatics Chest, June 1, 2006; 129(6): 1492 - 1499. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
I. D. Pavord, S. S. Birring, M. Berry, R. H. Green, C. E. Brightling, and A. J. Wardlaw Multiple inflammatory hits and the pathogenesis of severe airway disease. Eur. Respir. J., May 1, 2006; 27(5): 884 - 888. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
I. H. van Veen, P. J. Sterk, R. Schot, S. A. Gauw, K. F. Rabe, and E. H. Bel Alveolar nitric oxide versus measures of peripheral airway dysfunction in severe asthma Eur. Respir. J., May 1, 2006; 27(5): 951 - 956. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. A. Berry, B. Hargadon, M. Shelley, D. Parker, D. E. Shaw, R. H. Green, P. Bradding, C. E. Brightling, A. J. Wardlaw, and I. D. Pavord Evidence of a Role of Tumor Necrosis Factor {alpha} in Refractory Asthma N. Engl. J. Med., February 16, 2006; 354(7): 697 - 708. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |