The role of exhaled nitric oxide and exhaled breath condensates in evaluating airway inflammation in asthma

Abstract

Airway inflammation is central to the development and progression of asthma. Monitoring airway inflammation can be invasive and technically difficult, making its use limited in clinical practice. Several advances have been made in non-invasive techniques to monitor and measure inflammation from the airways. To examine the suitability of exhaled nitric oxide and exhaled breath condensates as diagnostic tools in asthma. The current literature regarding the use of exhaled nitric oxide and exhaled breath condensate to assess and manage asthma was reviewed. Exhaled nitric oxide is a clinically useful marker of eosinophilic airway inflammation in asthma. Although showing promise, significant validation and investigation are required before exhaled breath condensate could be utilized in clinical practice.