哮喘缓解期儿童呼出气一氧化氮水平与肺功能的相关性研究及临床意义

目的 探讨处于临床缓解期哮喘儿童呼出气一氧化氮(FeNO)水平与肺功能的相关性.方法 选取2012年1月至2012年11月于成都市妇女儿童中心医院哮喘门诊就诊的处于稳定期的哮喘患儿267例为研究对象,分别测定其FeNO水平和肺功能,分析FeNO水平和肺功能的相关性.结果 处于哮喘缓解期男性儿童与女性儿童FeNO值差异无统计学差异(P＞0.05).FeNO与身高、体重、年龄呈正相关(r =0.213、0.147、0.276,P=0.001、0.025、0.000).与FEF25％、FEF50％、FEF75％各占预计值呈负相关(r=-0.147、-0.127、-0.127、P=0.001 7、0.04、0.04).结论 FeNO水平与肺功能对临床缓解期哮喘儿童小气道的监测有一定的相关性,可将FeNO纳入哮喘管理的一个监测指标.     

哮喘患儿应用便携式肺功能仪自主监测通气功能的初步研究

目的 分析哮喘患儿应用便携式肺功能仪监测通气功能指标的准确度、日常自主监测的可行性及其影响因素,为探索哮喘患儿进行慢病个体化管理奠定基础。方法 选择在首都医科大学附属北京儿童医院过敏反应科确诊的53例哮喘患儿,其中男性41例（77.4%）,女性12例（22.6%）;年龄5～14岁,平均年龄8.34岁。应用便携式肺功能设备（呼吸家A1型,简称A1）测定肺通气功能,获得用力呼气肺活量占预计值的百分比（FVC%pred）、第1秒用力呼气容积占预计值的百分比（FEV1%pred）、第1秒用力呼气容积占用力肺活量百分比（FEV1/FVC）、最大呼气流量占预计值的百分比（PEF%pred）、最大呼气中期流量占预计值的百分比（MMEF%pred）、用力呼出25%、50%、75%肺活量时的瞬间流量占预计值的百分比（FEF25%pred、FEF50%pred、FEF75%pred）共8项参数;与同日在肺功能检查室经压差传感器肺功能仪（Jaeger-Masterscreen型,简称MS）测定常规肺通气所得的上述参数结果进行一致性比较,获得A1测定肺通气功能的准确度。对以上患儿启用初始哮喘控制治疗,其中27...     

维生素D3辅助治疗儿童重症哮喘可降低血清TLR4、S100β蛋白水平以及延缓哮喘复发

目的：探讨维生素D₃辅助治疗儿童重症哮喘的疗效以及对血清Toll样受体4（TLR4）、神经生化标志物S100β表达的影响。方法：将96例重症哮喘患儿随机分为对照组和观察组,每组48例。对照组给予糖皮质激素、气道解痉等药物,观察组在其基础上联合维生素D₃,观察并比较两组患儿的症状、体征消失时间,肺功能指标,以及两组患儿血清TLR4、S100β表达情况。同时,对患儿进行1年随访,观察其哮喘复发情况。结果：治疗9 d后,两组患儿治疗后肺功能指标FEV1、FEV1/FVC、FEF25%及FEF50%较治疗前均有明显改善（P<0.05）,且观察组肺功能指标改善程度优于对照组（P<0.05）;两组患儿治疗后血清TLR4、S100β蛋白水平较治疗前均降低（P>0.05）,观察组治疗后血清TLR4、S100β蛋白水平低于对照组（P<0.05）;此外,观察组患儿哮喘首发与复发间隔时间（11个月）明显长于对照组的中位复发时间（9个月）（P<0.05）。结论：与常规的甲泼尼龙治疗方案相比,甲泼尼龙联合维生素D₃的药物联合治疗方案能够有效恢复患儿肺功能,并降低TLR4及S100β蛋白的水平,减轻哮喘造成患儿的炎症反应及脑损伤,延长复发时间间隔,启示着该治疗方案可能成为重症哮喘患儿较好的治疗手段。     

血清肥大细胞羧肽酶与支气管哮喘的相关性研究

目的：检测支气管哮喘患者外周血中肥大细胞羧肽酶的含量,研究其与哮喘患者FEV 1(%)、IgE的关系,探讨其在支气管哮喘发病机制中的作用。方法：35例临床确诊为中重度持续性支气管哮喘患者作为病例组,均行肺功能及IgE水平检测,依据血清IgE水平将支气管哮喘患者分为IgE升高组（n=20）和IgE正常（n=15）。另外,选取22名健康者作为对照组,采用ELISA法检测受试者血清肥大细胞羧肽酶水平。比较支气管哮喘患者与健康者血清中肥大细胞羧肽酶水平;分析血清肥大细胞羧肽酶水平与IgE及肺功能的相关性。结果：IgE升高组患者血清肥大细胞羧肽酶水平明显高于IgE正常组（P＜0.05）;支气管哮喘急性发作期患者血清肥大细胞羧肽酶水平明显高于健康对照组（P＜0.05）;另外,哮喘急性发作期患者血清肥大细胞羧肽酶水平与患者FEV(%)呈明显的负相关;缓解期血清肥大细胞羧肽酶水平与FEV-1(%)无相关性（r=-0.421, P=0.012;r=-0.284,P=0.099）。结论：血清肥大细胞羧肽酶可能参与了支气管哮喘急性发作的气道炎症反应。     

支气管哮喘患者FeNO的表达及临床意义

目的:探讨不同呼出气一氧化氮(Fractional exhaled nitric oxide,FeNO)水平下支气管哮喘患者痰液、血液、肺功能检测等多个观察指标的表达特点,并分析在气道高反应性中的预测价值。方法:选取2017年1月至2019年5月于我院就诊的120例疑似支气管哮喘患者作为研究对象进行前瞻性分析,根据FeNO水平不同,将FeNO>49 ppb的42例患者列为高水平组,FeNO为26~49 ppb的33例患者为低水平组,FeNO≤25 ppb的45例患者为正常组。比较三组患者的基本临床资料、痰嗜酸性粒细胞、痰中性粒细胞、血嗜酸性粒细胞阳离子蛋白(Eosinophilic cationic protein,ECP)和免疫球蛋白E(Immunoglobulin E,IgE)以及第1s用力呼气容积(Forced expiratory volume at 1s,FEV1)、FEV1占预测值百分比(FEV1%Pred)、用力肺活量(Forced vital capacity,FVC)以及FEV1与FVC比值(FEV1/FVC)等肺功能检测结果进行统计分析。结果:经Spearman相关性分析显示,血IgE、ECP水平与FeNO水平呈正相关(r=0.615/0.629,P>0.01),FEV1%pred、FEV1/FVC与FeNO水平呈负相关(r=-0.494/0.789,P>0.01)。其中血IgE、ECP、FEV1%pred、FEV1/FVC对于预测支气管哮喘有一定的价值,而联合上述指标对于预测支气管哮喘的准确性最佳(AUC=0.920,P>0.01)。结论:不同FeNO水平支气管哮喘患者在临床表现中具有显著差异,在血IgE、ECP和肺功能FEV1%pred、FEV1/FVC指标检测的基础上增加FeNO可大大增加预测支气管哮喘的准确性。     

复可托治疗小儿反复肺炎支原体感染的疗效及对 免疫功能和肺功能的影响

目的 探讨复可托治疗小儿反复肺炎支原体感染的疗效及对免疫功能和肺功能的影响。方法 选取我院2015年1月~2017年1月收治的88例反复MP感染患儿为研究对象,采用随机数字表法分为两组,各44例。对照组患儿给予常规治疗,观察组在对照组基础上口服复可托,对比两组患儿临床疗效、免疫指标、肺功能指标。结果 观察组总有效率为97.73%,高于对照组的81.82%,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。观察组患儿IgA、IgM、IgG、CD4+、CD8+、CD4+/CD8+等免疫指标优于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。观察组患儿肺功能指标FVC、FEV1、PEF、FEF25、FEF50、FEF75均优于对照组,差异具有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论 复可托治疗小儿反复MP感染临床疗效显著,可有效改善免疫功能和肺功能。     

舌下含服粉尘螨滴剂治疗儿童哮喘1年疗效的初步观察

目的初步观察舌下含服粉尘螨滴剂治疗儿童变应性哮喘1年的临床疗效。方法收集2009年5月至2010年6月我院哮喘门诊就诊轻中度哮喘患者55例,采用随机、开放、平行对照的的研究方法将其分为:试验组(粉尘螨滴剂+吸入激素)30例,对照组(单纯吸入激素)25例。临床观察1年,比较2组哮喘症状评分、急性发作次数、发作持续天数、吸入激素量、肺功能及呼气峰流量变异率的改变情况。结果从治疗的第36周开始2组患儿的日均哮喘症状评分出现差异,差异持续至1年观察结束。试验组1年哮喘的急性发作次数、发作持续天数明显少于对照组;从治疗的40周开始2组患儿ICS用量出现差异,差异持续至1年观察结束。治疗1年后试验组肺功能FEF50、MMEF占预计值百分比明显高于对照组(P<0.05),而2组FEV1、PEF、FEF75比较未见明显差异(P均>0.05)。试验组PEFR变异率于治疗29～56周小于对照组(P<0.05)。结论舌下含服粉尘螨滴剂可改善哮喘患儿症状,减少哮喘急性发作次数、持续天数及严重程度,减少ICS剂量、改善患儿小气道肺功能、降低PEFR变异率。     

氧气驱动雾化吸入对支气管哮喘患者肺功能及血氧饱和度的影响

目的 探讨氧气驱动雾化吸入对支气管哮喘患者肺功能及血氧饱和度的影响。方法 选取2017年3月~2019年3月我院收治的86例支气管哮喘患者,按照随机数字表法分为对照组和观察组,各43例。对照组实施超声雾化吸入治疗,观察组实施氧气驱动雾化吸入治疗,比较两组肺功能指标（PA-aDO2、FEV1、PEF及RI）、血氧饱和度及不良反应发生率。结果 治疗后,观察组PA-aDO2、RI低于对照组[（2.40±0.39）kPa vs（2.97±0.42）kPa]、[（0.18±0.08）vs（0.29±0.06）],FEV1、PEF高于对照组[（2.01±0.16）L vs（1.46±0.18）L]、[（125.29±9.68）ml/min vs（108.55±8.79）ml/min],差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。观察组血氧饱和度高于对照组[（95.04±2.53）% vs（88.63±2.42）%],差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。两组不良反应发生率比较（6.98% vs 11.63%）,差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。结论 氧气驱动雾化吸入可有效增强支气管哮喘患者肺功能,提高血氧饱和度,且不增加不良反应。     

治未病三伏贴对支气管哮喘缓解期患者 冬病夏治的疗效观察

目的 观察治未病三伏贴对支气管哮喘缓解期患者冬病夏治的临床疗效。方法 选取2017年2月~2018年2月在我院治疗的100例支气管哮喘缓解期患者,随机分为对照组和观察组,每组50例。对照组采用传统贴膏治疗,观察组采用治未病三伏贴治疗,观察对比两组临床疗效、VCmax、FEV1、FEV1/FVC、红斑和水肿评分。结果 观察组治疗总有效率为94.00%,高于对照组的74.00%,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。治疗后,观察组VCmax、FEV1、FEV1/FVC等指标的改善优于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。观察组治疗后红斑、水肿评分低于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论 治未病三伏贴可提高支气管哮喘缓解期患者冬病夏控制率,改善患者肺功能,减轻临床症状,且临床皮肤反应轻,患者容易接受,利于临床的应用。     

孟鲁司特钠对轻度持续哮喘患儿疗效和安全性的随机双盲安慰剂对照试验

目的研究孟鲁司特钠单用于治疗5~14岁轻度持续哮喘患儿的疗效和安全性。方法采用安慰剂随机双盲对照试验,对首诊诊断为轻度持续哮喘患儿,采用调查问卷方式采集患儿基线数据,经过2周安慰剂洗脱期,随机分为治疗组和对照组,分别睡前咀嚼口服孟鲁司特钠或安慰剂5 mg.d-1,疗程均为12周。在入组后4、8和12周记录哮喘日记卡内容：日间和夜间哮喘症状评分、β2受体激动剂使用频率、最大呼气峰流速（PEF）、因哮喘急性发作而需急诊或住院治疗的次数等;于治疗后12周检测肺功能指标：FEV 1%预计值、FEF 25%~75%。结果 2009年9月至2010年9月上海交通大学附属第一人民医院儿科哮喘专科门诊的轻度持续哮喘患儿安慰剂组纳入42例,孟鲁司特钠组纳入89例,至观察终点安慰剂组35例,孟鲁司特钠组77例进入分析。与安慰剂组相比,孟鲁司特钠组的PEF明显改善（P〈0.05）;每周日间和夜间哮喘症状平均评分、每月因哮喘发作而需急诊或住院就诊率和每周平均β2受体激动剂使用次数均下降,差异有显著统计学意义（P〈0.01）;治疗后12周孟鲁司特钠组FEV 1%、FEF 25%~75%较安慰剂组显著提高（P〈0.05）;研究期间两组患儿均未观察到不良反应事件。结论孟鲁司特钠单独用于轻度持续性哮喘患儿具有良好的疗效,不良反应少,患儿依从性高。     

Childhood Asthma Control Test and airway inflammation evaluation in asthmatic children

Background:  The Childhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT) has been proposed as a tool in assessing the level of disease control in asthmatic children. To evaluate the position of C-ACT in the clinical management of asthmatic children, in relationship to the level of airway inflammation as assessed by fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and with lung function.
Methods:  A total of 200 asthmatic children were included in the study: 47 children with newly diagnosed asthma ('New') and without any regular controller therapy; and 153 children with previously diagnosed asthma, treated according to GINA guidelines, and evaluated during a scheduled follow-up visit ('Follow-up'). Childhood Asthma Control Test, FeNO and lung function [forced expiratory volume 1 (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC)] were evaluated.
Results:  In New vs Follow-up participants, C-ACT score ( P  <   0.001), FVC ( P  <   0.005) and FEV1 ( P  <   0.05) were significantly lower, and FeNO ( P  =   0.011) were significantly higher. In New, but not in Follow-up participants, significant correlations were observed between C-ACT score and FeNO ( r  = −0.51; P  <   0.001), FEV1 ( r  =   0.34; P  =   0.022) and FEV1/FVC ( r  =   0.32; P  =   0.03). This lack of correlation in Follow-up visits seemed attributable to dissociation between inadequately controlled asthma by C-ACT ratings with normalization of other measures such as FeNO levels.
Conclusions:  This study confirms and expands the concept that C-ACT is complementary to, but not a substitute for, other markers of disease control in asthmatic children, especially in the context of follow-up visits.     

Acute changes in bronchoconstriction influences exhaled nitric oxide level

In previous studies the exhaled nitric oxide (NO) level of asthma patients was investigated only in association with bronchial inflammation, and whether the degree of bronchoconstriction itself influences the exhaled NO level has never been investigated. We therefore evaluated the effect of inhalation of a bronchoconstrictor (methacholine) or a bronchodilator (salbutamol) on the exhaled NO level of healthy volunteers and asthma patients. The exhaled NO level of the healthy volunteers decreased after methacholine inhalation. The exhaled NO level of patients with mild or moderate persistent asthma, who had no asthma attacks on the day of measurement, increased after salbutamol inhalation, and the exhaled NO level of asthma patients during asthma attacks increased after salbutamol inhalation followed by intravenous drip infusion of aminophylline. It is suspected that large amounts of NO are trapped in the lung distal to the constricted airway, contributing little to the exhaled NO level at the mouth. However, we expect that the trapped NO is exhaled at a larger fraction after the dilatation of the constricted small airway, thereby increasing the exhaled NO level at the mouth. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that acute changes in bronchoconstriction themselves influence the exhaled NO level independently of the change in NO synthase activity associated with airway inflammation.     

Sex differences of small airway function and fractional exhaled nitric oxide in patients with mild asthma

BackgroundSex differences of small airway function (SAF) and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) in patients with mild asthma remain unclear.ObjectiveTo evaluate sex differences of SAF and FeNO in patients with mild asthma confirmed by positive methacholine challenge test (MCT) result.MethodsThis cross-sectional, double-centered, observational study enrolled 1609 adult patients with forced expiratory volume in 1 second greater than or equal to 80% and suspected asthma symptoms. Data of spirometry, FeNO, impulse oscillometry measurements, and peripheral blood test result were compared between males and females. The receiver-operating characteristic curves of SAF parameters and FeNO in predicting positive MCT result were also calculated.ResultsIn patients with mild asthma matched by age, males had better SAF but higher FeNO levels than females (60 [29.27%] vs 187 [46.75%] for small airway dysfunction, 78.6% vs 72.0% for forced expiratory flow [FEF]_50%, 67.5% vs 60.1% for FEF_75%, 73.7% vs 67.4% for FEF_25%-75%, and 42.0 ppb vs 29.0 ppb for FeNO, respectively, all P ≤ .001). The FeNO levels in male current smokers were considerably lower than those of nonsmokers. SAF and FeNO values declined more rapidly with age among female than male patients with asthma. The optimal cutoff values of FEF_25%-75%, FEF_50%, and FeNO for predicting a positive MCT result were 81.5%, 86.4%, and 41.0 ppb in males vs 73.7%, 76.9%, and 35.0 ppb in females.ConclusionIn patients with mild asthma, the female patients have worse SAF, lower FeNO levels, and a more prominent decline trend of those parameters with age than males. Sex-specific cutoff values should be considered when SAF parameters (FEF_25%-75%, FEF_50%), alone or combined with FeNO, are used to predict positive MCT result in asthma diagnosis.     

Recent advance in pulmonary function tests--advance in pulmonary function tests for diagnosis and management of asthma

Development of new machine and small-sized equipment have the advantage on both diagnosis and management of various diseases. In terms of bronchial asthma, the understanding of pathophysiology has been changed from a disease with acute episodes of bronchoconstriction to a disorder with chronic airway inflammation. To verify bronchial responsiveness induced by chronic inflammation, a direct-writing respiratory impedance method(Astograph) is more useful compared with a conventional standard method with measuring FEV1.0. Peak expiratory flow(PEF), an index of pulmonary function test with effort, can be measured with peak flow meter which is small and handy. Repeated measurements of PEF have been recommended by the International Consensus Report on diagnosis and treatment of asthma. The PEF monitoring is effective not only on the understanding of individual pathophysiology but also on the long-term management of patients with asthma. It is needed to develop noninvasive simple technique to evaluate airway inflammation although many investigators have examined hypertonic saline-induced sputum or bronchial mucosal biopsy. Repeated measurements of exhaled nitric oxide may become to a safe and valid method to access inflammatory change in the airway.     

The relationship between airway hyper‐responsiveness, markers of inflammation and lung function depends on the duration of the asthmatic disease

BACKGROUND: The combination of airway hyper-responsiveness, eosinophilic airway inflammation, and lung function impairment is considered as a hallmark of bronchial asthma. Since airway function might change with time in chronic asthma, the association between parameters which are characteristic of asthma could be different in subjects with different durations of the disease. OBJECTIVE: We assessed whether in patients with asthma the relationship between airway hyperresponsiveness, non-invasive markers of airway inflammation, and baseline lung function depended on the duration of the disease. METHODS: Sixty-six non-smoking patients with mild to moderate allergic asthma without corticosteroids were assigned to two groups, according to a duration of the disease (time interval since doctor's diagnosis) of either < or = 16 years (median 8 years; mean FEV1, 92.6% pred.; n = 34) or > 16 year (median 25 years; mean FEV1, 87.9% pred.; n = 32). RESULTS: Groups did not differ statistically in PC20FEV1 of methacholine, sputum composition, levels of exhaled nitric oxide (NO), lung function parameters, or history of treatment. There were significant correlations between PC20FEV1, eosinophils and NO in patients with a duration of the disease < or = 16 year, but no relation to lung function. In contrast, patients with a duration > 16 year showed a correlation between PC20FEV1 of methacholine and lung function but not eosinophils or NO. In both groups, eosinophils and NO were associated with each other. These results were corroborated by the statistical procedure of factor analysis that revealed 'inflammation' and 'lung function' as major entities and found 'responsiveness' to be associated with only one of them in each group. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrate that with a shorter duration of the asthmatic disease airway hyper-responsiveness is associated with airway inflammation, whereas with a longer duration it is associated with impaired lung function, suggesting that in chronic asthma ongoing alterations become the primary determinant of functional characteristics.     

Bronchial hyperresponsiveness to mannitol,airway inflammation and Asthma Control Test in atopic asthmatic children

Introduction

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) to mannitol and bronchial inflammation measured as exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and to assess whether asthma control correlates with AHR to mannitol and FeNO in atopic asthmatic children.

Material and methods

Allergy evaluation, the mannitol challenge test, FeNO levels and the Asthma Control Test (ACT) questionnaire were assessed in 40 children with intermittent and mild persistent allergic asthma.

Results

All the subjects showed positive AHR to mannitol. Pearson''s correlation test revealed a significant inverse correlation between AHR (mannitol PD₁₅) and FeNO (p = 0.020). There was also a significant positive correlation between ACT and PD₁₅ (p = 0.020) and a significant negative correlation between ACT and FeNO levels (p = 0.003). The study population was divided into two groups according to FeNO levels (group A ≥ 16 ppb vs. group B < 16 ppb). In group A mannitol PD₁₅ was significantly lower (p = 0.040) and ACT score values were significantly lower (p = 0.001) compared to group B. In group A, the ACT showed that 13.3% of subjects had well-controlled asthma, 80% had partially controlled asthma and 6.7% had uncontrolled asthma. In group B, the ACT showed that 72% of subjects had well-controlled asthma and 28% had partially controlled asthma.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that the degree of AHR to mannitol correlates with the degree of airway inflammation in asthmatic atopic children; moreover, better control of asthma correlates with a lower degree of AHR to both mannitol and FeNO.     

Combined mediator blockade or topical steroid for treating the unified allergic airway

BACKGROUND: Asthma and allergic rhinitis are manifestations of a single unified allergic airway, for which the best treatment is uncertain. OBJECTIVE: To compare the anti-inflammatory efficacy in the unified allergic airway of combined oral mediator antagonism and combined topical steroid. METHODS: Subjects with asthma and perennial allergic rhinitis entered a randomized double blind crossover study comparing montelukast 10 mg and cetirizine 10 mg to extra-fine inhaled beclomethasone 400 mcg/day and intranasal beclomethasone 200 mcg/day, each taken once daily for 2 months, after 2-week placebo washouts. Measurements were made after each washout and randomized treatment, comprising: methacholine PC20, exhaled and nasal nitric oxide, blood eosinophils and eosinophilic cationic protein, symptoms, lung and nasal function tests. RESULTS: Seventeen patients completed per protocol. For PC20 and exhaled nitric oxide, only combined topical steroid produced improvements (P < 0.005) from placebo baseline. Combined steroid was superior by a 0.93 (95% CI 0.14-0.93, P < 0.05) doubling dilution difference for PC20 and a 0.99 (95% CI 0.9-15.1, P < 0.01) doubling difference for exhaled nitric oxide. Both treatments attenuated eosinophils and eosinophilic cationic protein, and reduced nasal symptoms (P < 0.05). Only steroid improved nasal nitric oxide (P=0.05) and asthma symptoms (P < 0.05). Neither treatment affected lung or nasal function tests. CONCLUSION: Combined topical steroid and combined mediator antagonism both attenuated systemic inflammation in the unified allergic airway, but only the former reduced bronchial and nasal inflammatory markers. The relevance of this to exacerbations and airway remodelling needs to be defined.     

Reliability of a new hand-held device for the measurement of exhaled nitric oxide

BACKGROUND: Given the importance of airway inflammation in asthma, there has been an effort to incorporate inflammatory markers into its management. Measurement of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is a noninvasive marker of airway inflammation; however, the use of the available FeNO analyzer is limited by several factors including its cost and lack of transportability. The aim of this study was to compare the performance of a new hand-held FeNO measuring device (NIOX MINO) to the current clinical standard - the chemiluminescence FeNO analyzer (NIOX). METHODS: Subjects 6 years and older presenting to an allergy and asthma clinic underwent FeNO evaluation by NIOX and each of three NIOX MINOs. The mean of two acceptable measurements from the NIOX and the first approved measurement from each NIOX MINO were used for analysis. RESULTS: One hundred ten patients aged 6-86 years completed the study. Intrasubject FeNO levels obtained by each of the three NIOX MINOs revealed no significant difference between the measurements (P = 0.59). There was a very strong correlation between FeNO measurements by NIOX and by NIOX MINO (r = 0.98, P < 0.0001). The mean intrasubject FeNO difference between NIOX and NIOX MINO was -0.5 p.p.b. which was not statistically significantly different from zero (P = 0.21). CONCLUSIONS: Fractional exhaled nitric oxide measurements by the NIOX MINO showed a strong correlation and a high degree of agreement with the current standard stationary device. The NIOX MINO may be reliably used in clinical practice.