Exhaled Nitric Oxide and Airway Caliber during Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction

F. García-Río; M. Ramírez; O. Mediano; V. Lores; B. Rojo; C. Villasante; J. Villamor

doi:10.1055/s-2006-923775

International Journal of Sports Medicine, Table of Contents

Int J Sports Med 2006; 27(11): 905-910
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-923775

Clinical Sciences

Exhaled Nitric Oxide and Airway Caliber during Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction

F. García-Río¹ , M. Ramírez¹ , O. Mediano¹ , V. Lores¹ , B. Rojo¹ , C. Villasante¹ , J. Villamor¹

¹Servicio de Neumología, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain

Abstract

Data on the relationship between exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) and exhaled nitric oxide (NO) in adult patients with asthma are controversial. It is unclear whether endogenous NO may act as either a protective or stimulatory factor in the airway response to exercise or whether changes in exhaled NO simply reflect acute narrowing of the airway. The aim of this study was to assess the changes in the fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FE_NO) before and after exercise challenge in patients with asthma and to analyze the relationship between FE_NO and airway obstruction. Twenty-five non-smoking, steroid-naïve, atopic, adult patients with mild persistent asthma and 12 non-smoking, nonatopic, healthy subjects (control group) performed an exercise challenge on a cycloergometer, with monitored ventilation. FEV₁ and FE_NO were measured at baseline and 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes after the exercise challenge. Eleven of the asthmatic patients had exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB group) and the remaining 14 did not (non-EIB group). Baseline FE_NO was higher in the EIB and non-EIB asthmatic groups than in the control group. In the EIB group, FE_NO was significantly lower 5, 10 and 15 minutes after exercise, and the changes in FE_NO correlated with variation in FEV₁ 10 and 15 min after exercise. A significant correlation between baseline FE_NO and maximal post-exercise decrease in FEV₁ was found in asthmatic patients (EIB group). In conclusion, exhaled nitric oxide levels transiently decrease during exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in adult patients with asthma. Baseline FE_NO might predict the airway obstruction resulting after exercise.

Key words

Asthma - exercise-induced bronchoconstriction - airway - exhaled nitric oxide

Full Text

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PhD Francisco García-Río

Servicio de Neumología, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain

Alfredo Marqueríe 11, izqda, 1° A

28034 Madrid

Spain

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