| Autor: |
Corradi, M, Majori, M, Cacciani, G C, Consigli, G F, de'Munari, E, Pesci, A |
| Zdroj: |
Thorax; Jul1999, p572-575, 4p |
| Abstrakt: |
Background: Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role as an inflammatory mediator in the airways. Since chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterised by airway inflammation, a study was undertaken to determine NO levels in the exhaled air of patients with COPD.Methods: Two groups of patients with clinically stable COPD were studied, 10 current smokers and 10 ex-smokers. Two control groups of healthy subjects consisting of 10 current smokers and 20 non-smokers were also studied. Exhaled NO levels were measured by the collection bag technique and NO chemiluminescence analyser.Results: Mean (SE) levels of exhaled NO in ex-smokers and current smokers with COPD (25.7 (3.0) ppb and 10.2 (1.4) ppb, respectively) were significantly higher than in non-smoker and current smoker control subjects (9.4 (0.8) ppb and 4.6 (0.4) ppb, respectively). In current smokers with COPD exhaled levels of NO were significantly lower than in ex-smokers. In this latter group of patients there was a significant negative correlation between smoking history (pack years) and levels of exhaled NO (r = -0.8, p = 0.002). A positive correlation was seen between forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and levels of exhaled NO (r = 0.65, p = 0.001) in patients with COPD.Conclusions: These data show that exhaled NO is increased in patients with stable COPD, both current and ex-smokers, compared with healthy control subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Databáze: |
Complementary Index |
| Externí odkaz: |
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