Nasal nitric oxide useful biomarker in persistent allergic rhinitis

Researchers have reported that nasal nitric oxide (NO) is a useful tool for the follow-up of patients with persistent allergic rhinitis (PER) and helps clinicians to estimate the level of treatment response. They had conducted a study to evaluate the role of nasal nitric oxide (NO) in the management of patients with persistent allergic rhinitis (PER). This study has been published in Advances in Medical Sciences. 

In the study, the subjects were classified as controls (healthy subjects) or patients with PER based on defined criteria. All clinical, functional and biological data were collected for analyzing. In all 267 patients with mild and moderate-to-severe PER and 234 control subjects were randomised to antihistamine (AHS) plus leukotriene receptor antagonist (LKA) or intranasal steroid (INS) for six months. Baseline IgE and blood eosinophils were assessed and nasal fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) was measured by electroluminescence device.

It was found that the Nasal FENO, IgE, and eosinophils were higher in PER patients than in control subjects. In the control subjects, there were no significant correlations between FENO, total IgE, and eosinophil counts. In patients with persistent allergic rhinitis, the level of nasal FENO was significantly correlated with total IgE and blood eosinophil counts.

Following treatment, clinical symptoms and nasal FENO were improved in allergic patients. Patients treated with INS responded better than patients treated with AHS plus LKA. Total IgE and eosinophils count were not significantly decreased after treatment.

it was concluded that Nasal NO measurement is a useful tool for the follow-up of patients with PER. It also helps clinicians to estimate the level of response to treatment in patients with persistent allergic rhinitis. Nasal FENO may be a useful biomarker for diagnosis and for evaluating treatment response during follow-up in patients with persistent allergic rhinitis.

For more details click on the link:Vo-Thi-Kim A, Van-Quang T, Nguyen-Thanh B, et al. The effect of medical treatment on nasal exhaled nitric oxide (NO) in patients with persistent allergic rhinitis: A randomized control study. Adv Med Sci 2020;65(1):182-188. 

 DOI:10.1016/j.advms.2019.12.004.