Off-Line Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide Measurement Is Useful to Screen Allergic Airway Inflammation in an Adult Population

Abstract

To determine whether off-line fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) measurement is applicable to screen allergic airway inflammation for epidemiologic studies, we examined 280 adults, measuring off-line FeNO samplings, pulmonary function, and serum immunoglobulin E (IgE). Subjects with recurrent wheeze (recurrent wheezers) had significantly higher FeNO and IgE levels and significantly lower forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity (FEV₁/FVC) than non-wheezers. Statistical analysis showed that FeNO and FEV₁/FVC were significant predictors for recurrent wheezers, independent of smoking. The cut-off FeNO level for screening allergic airway inflammation was 38 ppb in non-smokers and 32.9 ppb in smokers. Thus, off-line FeNO can be used as a good marker to screen allergic airway inflammation, regardless of smoking.

Keywords:

• fractional exhaled nitric oxide
• off-line measurement
• wheeze
• epidemiological screening
• asthma