Nitric oxide as a clinical guide for asthma management

Changes in FEV₁ (% improvement) following 4 weeks of treatment with inhaled fluticasone 500 μg/d in 52 subjects with chronic nonspecific respiratory symptoms, stratified by baseline F_ENO (tertiles). The changes in FEV₁ were significantly higher in the group with the highest F_ENO (greater than 47 ppb) using 1-way ANOVA for trends across all 3 groups (P < .01). Data are also given after stratifying by clinical diagnosis made at the time of initial presentation based on symptoms, bronchodilator response, and/or a positive test for airway hyperresponsiveness (asthma versus nonasthma).⁷

Distribution of mean inhaled fluticasone doses (over 12 months) in 2 asthma management groups, one using F_ENO measurements (n = 46) and the other conventional group in which symptoms, bronchodilator use, and lung function were used in accordance with a priori criteria (n = 48). There was a highly significant difference between the 2 groups (P = .008). Downward dose adjustments were made in the F_ENO group if the F_ENO level was less than 35 ppb.¹⁴