The role of exhaled nitric oxide (NO) as a diagnostic and management tool for asthma and other inflammatory airways diseases is increasingly being recognised by national and international professional bodies.
Several asthma guidelines already include the measurement of exhaled NO:
- GINA (Global Initiative for Asthma)
- National Asthma Expert Panel, part of the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI, US)
- British
- Dutch
- Finnish
- Spanish
- Swedish
The guidelines issued by the American Thoracic Society and the European Respiratory Society (ATS/ERS 2005) provide guidance as to how exhaled NO measurements should be carried out. These guidelines include such parameters as the exhalation flow rate (50ml/s), the correct exhalation time, and the method for analysis of the NO content. The guidelines also recommend that the patient inhale NO-free air prior to testing in order to differentiate between atmospheric and intrinsic NO.
More details about the content of these guidelines can be found in the Reimbursement/Guidelines section.