Correlation of FENO With Spirometric Measurements and Blood Eosinophil Level in Patients With Severe Asthma.

BACKGROUND

Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) serves as a marker of eosinophil-mediated airway inflammation and has been used in asthma diagnosis, phenotyping, and guidance regarding selection and adjustment of asthma therapy. Studies suggested that FENO correlated with asthma symptoms, peripheral blood eosinophil level, blood IgE level, and spirometry indicators of airway obstruction. However, the results are inconsistent across studies.

METHODS

A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in Queen Mary Hospital among adult patients with severe asthma. Patients had spirometry with bronchodilator reversibility and same-day FENO. Asthma control test (ACT) score and blood eosinophil and total IgE levels were measured within 4 weeks of FENO and spirometry. The primary outcome was the correlation of FENO and spirometric values. The secondary outcomes included the correlation of FENO with ACT score, blood eosinophil, and total IgE levels.

RESULTS

One hundred thirty-five severe asthma patients with FENO performed were included in the study. FENO was negatively correlated with pre-bronchodilator FEV1 (L) (r = -0.188, p = 0.029), pre-bronchodilator FEV1 (% predicted) (r = -0.169, p = 0.050), pre-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC ratio (r = -0.269, p = 0.002), and post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC (r = -0.215, p = 0.018). FENO was positively correlated with bronchodilator reversibility (mL) (r = 0.248, p = 0.006) and bronchodilator reversibility (%) (r = 0.823, p = 0.002), baseline blood eosinophil level by absolute cell count (r = 0.308, p < 0.001) and by percentage (r = 0.361, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

In adult patients with severe asthma, FENO might have a negative correlation with the FEV1, FEV1/FVC ratio, and a positive correlation with bronchodilator reversibility, as well as with blood eosinophil levels.