Nitric oxide in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease : measurement and role in the characterisation of disease

• Main Author: Roy, Kay
• Published: University of Manchester 2008
• Subjects: 616.24
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.495051

COPD is a heterogeneous disease and nitric oxide (NO) may play a role in the underlying pathophysiology as it serves many physiological and immunoregulatory functions in the respiratory airways. Airway inflammation can be characterised by non invasive biomarkers such as NO metabolites (NOx: nitrites and nitrates) in exhaled breath condensate (EBC), sputum (IS) as well as exhaled nitric oxide (Fcno). Methodological validation of these measurements is needed in COPD, NO performed at multiple flow rates can be applied to a mathematical model (different methods exist), in order to describe the anatomical distribution of NO in the airways. There is no standardisation as to which method to use in COPD. Characterisation of COPD by airway and systemic biomarkers and lung function enables us to understand the phenotypes of disease.