When the anti-inflammatory treatment has been initiated, within a few days, The NIOX® Value is the first to drop, while symptoms may take weeks to resolve and lung function even longer to improve (Silkoff 2004, Sorkness 2007).
A decrease of The NIOX Value of more than 40% from initiation or increase of steroid therapy prelude optimal asthma control (Silkoff 2004) . However, an increase of The NIOX Value of more than 30% from one visit to the next proceeds detoriation in asthma control (Michils 2008, Jones 2001) . The NIOX Value increases within days following allergen exposure while detoriation in lung function is seen much later (Piancentini 1999) . The NIOX Value increases before the onset of symptoms making it a more sensitive marker of the disease. This makes inflammation measurement a helpful tool both in predicting loss of control and assessing compliance with inhaled steroids.
This means that you can detect a deterioration in the patients asthma before it causes problems.
Spirometry and The NIOX Value are independent measures of different aspects of the disease. So there is little correlation between inflammation measurements and pulmonary function tests, in asthma patients.
Relying on the patient’s history, subjective evaluation of current condition and measuring the lung function is reactive symptom control.