All issues > Volume 46(3); 2003

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 2003;46(3):284-290. Published online March 15, 2003.

Exhaled Nitric Oxide Concentration in Children with Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis : Association with Atopy and Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness

Kyu Min KM Nah¹, Yang Y Park², Eun Kyeong EK Kang¹, Hee H Kang¹, Young Yull YY Koh¹, Sun Wha SW Lee³, Domyung DM Paek⁴

²Department of Pediatrics, Kunpo Medical Center, Wonkwang University College of Medicine, Iksan, Korea
³Institute of Health and Environment, School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
⁴Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence Young Yull YY Koh ,Email: kohyy@plaza.snu.ac.kr

Abstract

Purpose
: A new airway inflammatory marker, exhaled nitric oxide(ENO) has been reported to correlate with bronchial hyperresponsiveness(BHR) and atopy. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship of ENO with BHR or atopy in patients with asthma and with allergic rhinitis.
Methods
: The subjects consisted of 55 children with asthma, 17 with allergic rhinitis, and 14 healthy controls. The asthma group was subdivided into the atopic asthma group(n=37) and the nonatopic asthma group(n=18) and the allergic rhinitis group into BHR group(n=7) and non-BHR group(n=10). All were investigated with spirometry and measurements of ENO concentration. The correlations between ENO concentration and both methacholine PC20(provocative concentration causing a 20% decrease in forced expiratory volume in one second) and the number of allergen skin test positivity were analyzed.
Results
: ENO concentrations of both asthma and allergic rhinitis groups were significantly greater than that of control(P<0.01). ENO concentration of atopic asthma was significantly greater than that of nonatopic asthma(P<0.01). In allergic rhinitis, ENO concentration did not differ according to the presence or absence of BHR(P=0.50). ENO concentrations correlated significantly with the number of skin test positivity(r=0.32, P=0.02) or methacholine PC20(r=-0.38, P<0.01) in asthma group, but not in the allergic rhinitis group(r=0.42, P=0.09; r=-0.06, P=0.83).
Conclusion
: In asthma patients, some pathogenetic mechanisms associated with atopy and BHR seem to influence ENO concentration. In allergic rhinitis patients, some factors other than BHR may be important in determining ENO concentration.

Keywords :Exhaled nitric oxide, Asthma, Allergic rhinitis, Bronchial hyperresponsiveness, Atopy