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Because the concentration of nitric oxide (NO) in exhaled breath is associated with airway inflammation, measurement of exhaled NO has been proposed as a means to guide inhaled corticosteroid therapy in patients with asthma.
In a U.K. study, 118 adults with asthma were randomized to have their inhaled steroid dosing guided by exhaled NO measurements or by standard practice guidelines during a 12-month period. At 1 year, the two groups did not differ significantly in the occurrence of asthma exacerbations, degree of asthma control on a standardized questionnaire, or cumulative dose of inhaled steroid.
In a study from New Zealand, researchers measured exhaled NO in a random sample of 528 adults to determine reference ranges. The analysis demons…