SELECTED ARTICLES FROM THE RECENT LITERATURE 2008

4/7/08

Inhaled Nitric Oxide and Sputum Eosinophilia are Useful Markers in Predicting Exacerbations of Asthma in Chinese Children

Summary
It is known that nitric oxide levels in children are not affected by gender in Caucasians, but they gender related inAsians. Thus, there are potential differences between Asian and western populations in terms of the utility of the use of nitric oxide. The authors goal was to see if inhaled nitric oxide (NO) and sputum in eosinophils (EO) were predictive of asthma exacerbations in Chinese children.

Children age 6 to 18 years with stable asthma were selected for study. Fifty children had their dose of inhaled corticosteroid halved every eight weeks until they reached the study endpoint. The endpoint was an exacerbation or complete weaning off inhaled corticosteroids.

The authors found that older boys with elevated NO and EO were at higher risk of failure of reduction in their inhaled corticosteroid dose. They found that monitoring airway inflammation in children with asthma using NO an EO was clinically useful in Chinese children.

Reference
Albert T M LI, et al. Predictors for failed dose reduction of inhaled corticosteroids in childhood asthma. Respirology 2008; 10:1440-1843.

 

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