[The measurement of exhaled nitric oxide, a new tool in the management of asthma?]. / La mesure du monoxyde d'azote exhalé, un nouvel outil dans la prise en charge de l'asthme?

ABSTRACT

A GOOD DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOR ASTHMA Chronic airway inflammation, main feature of asthma, can be assessed by measuring the exhaled nitric oxide (NO) level. Measurement of NO is standardized, non-invasive and easy to use in both children and adults. Studies have shown that it is a good diagnostic test for asthma when NO is high. However, other conditions or pathologies must be searched for because they may influence the results. ITS PLACE IN TREATMENT Although exhaled NO helps to characterise the patients with asthma, other studies are required to show that it can help to improve the follow-up of such patients. Nevertheless, this tool has not yet been validated in the daily treatment of asthma and further research is still ongoing.