Abstrakt

This is a paper aiming to evaluate the possible relationship between the exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) and the level of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in asthmatic patients. Subjects and methods: The study comprised a total of 91 asthmatic, nonsmoking, steroid-naïve patients (54 female, 37 male), their age ranging from 15 to 71 years (mean 32.18 ± 13.69 years). The diagnosis was established by clinical and functional follow-up spirometry, methacholine challenge testing, skin prick test and the eNO measurements. Results: The mean value of FEV1 established in our asthmatics, was 3.47 ± 0.88 l (97.92 ± 14.51%). In 78 patients (85.71%), the skin prick test was positive. The mean value of the eNO was 72.46 ± 42.56 ppb. The mean value of PC₂₀FEV₁ was 0.699 ± 0.55 mg/ml of methacholine (ranging from 0.025 to 1.99 mg/ml). 72 patients (79.12%) exhibited severe AHR, while 19 patients (20.88%) presented only with a moderate one. There was no significant correlation between eNO and PC₂₀FEV₁ (p = 0.64), as well as between the eNO and atopy (p = 0.79). However, the correlation between FEV₁ and patient´s age was proven significant (p = 0.02). Conclusion: The eNO represents a well-recognized biomarker of airway inflammation, but does not correlate with the AHR level.

Autoreninformation

Autoren

• D. Pelicaric¹
• B. Butorac Petanjek²
• M. Krizanic Jurisic³

Abteilungen

• ¹ Ambulanzzentrum für Diagnostik “OZ Nemetova”,
• ² Universitätsklinik für Lungenerkrankungen “Jordanovac”,
• ³ Ambulanzzentrum für Atemwegserkrankungen, Zagreb, Kroatien

Adresse

Dr. med. Mr. sc. B. Butorac Petanjek
University Hospital for Lung Diseases “Jordanovac”
Jordanovac 104
HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Email: [email protected]

Citation