Ni Made Restiawati, Faisal Yunus, Ratnawati.
Abstract
Background : Exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is recognized as reliable surrogate marker of eosinophilic airway inflammation in asthma patient and offers the advantage of being completely non-invasive and easy procedure.
Methods : This cross-sectional comparative study involves 96 asthmatic subjects which then classified into two main categories : controlled and uncontrolled asthma based on asthma control test (ACT). Exhaled NO and spirometry measurement performed in all subjects.
Results : Ninety six subjects were included in this study and 49 subjects had controlled asthma. All patients had been using asthma medication on regular basis. Based on FEV1/FVC 26 (55.3%) uncontrolled asthma patients had normal results, 14 (29.8%) had mild obstruction and 7 (14.9%) had moderate obstruction. Meanwhile, 25 (51%) controlled asthma patients had normal results, 21 (42.9%) had mild obstruction and 3 (6.1%) had moderate obstruction. Median of NO in controlled asthma patients was 27 part per billion (pbb), (6;110) while in uncontrolled asthma was 40 ppb (5;142) with p-value 0.002.
Conclusion : Uncontrolled asthma patients had higher measured level of NO compared to controlled asthma patients. More than 50% subjects had no obstruction based on FEV1/FVC. (J Respir Indo. 2013; 33:145-54)