High fractional exhaled nitric oxide may predict response to inhaled corticosteroid therapy in patients with subacute cough

• Published in: Nan fang yi ke da xue xue bao = Journal of Southern Medical University Vol. 36; no. 7; p. 932
• Main Authors: Ye, Yan-Mei, Wang, Yan-Hong, Ni, Li, Liang, Jian-Peng, Yu, Wei-Wei, Wu, Yue-Xian, Zhao, Wen-Qu, Xiong, Jing, Yao, Li-Hong, Cai, Shao-Xi, Zhao, Hai-Jin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Chinese
• Published: China 20.06.2016
• Subjects: Adrenal Cortex Hormones - therapeutic use; Breath Tests; Chronic Disease; Cough - diagnosis; Cough - drug therapy; Exhalation; Female; Humans; Male; Nitric Oxide - analysis
• ISSN: 1673-4254

To evaluate fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) level in patients with subacute cough and its value in predicting the patients' response to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) treatment. A total of 100 patients with persistent cough lasting more than 3 weeks were enrolled, including 52 patients with subacute cough and 48 with chronic cough. FENO, spirometry, and responses to ICS therapy of the patients were evaluated. The recruited patients had a median (inter-quartile ranges) FENO level of 19 ppb (12-30 ppb). Patients with chronic cough had a significantly higher median FENO level than those with subacute cough (20.5 vs 16 ppb; Z=-2.245, P=0.025). A FENO level ≥25 ppb was recorded in 15 (28.8%) patients with subacute cough, as compared with 20 (41.6%) in patients with chronic cough (χ(2)=1.801, P=0.179). With a FENO ≥25 ppb as the critical value to justify ICS treatment, 15 patients with subacute cough received ICS and 14 (93.3%) of them showed obvious relief of cough after 2 weeks of therapy, a response rate s