Guideline on ‘Asthma treatment in children’ for paediatric pulmonologists (2nd revised edition). I Diagnosis and prevention

E.J. DUIVERMAN, Q-JÖBSIS, E.E.M. VAN ESSEN-ZANDVLIET, W.M.C. VAN AALDEREN AND J.C. DE JONGSTE*. Dutch Medical Journal 2003 27 September; 147(39)

On behalf of the Paediatric Pulmonary Disease Section of the Dutch Association for Paediatric Medicine.

"....Non-invasive methods have recently been developed which enable inflammation to be demonstrated indirectly in the bronchial tree by analyzing exhaled air. Determination of the fraction of nitric oxide in exhaled air (FeNO) appears promising for the near future.12 This fraction is increased in allergic asthma and is reduced according to dose in treatment with inhaled corticosteroids.13 FeNO is also increased in the case of exacerbations of asthma and after exposure to allergens. There is a close correlation with the number of eosinophilic leukocytes in bronchial biopsies, BAL, sputum and blood,11 but there is only a weak correlation with symptoms, lung function and bronchial hyperreactivity.12 FeNO may also be useful in differential diagnosis....."