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Assessment of Small-Airways Disease Using Alveolar Nitric Oxide and Impulse Oscillometry in Asthma and COPD

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Abstract

The contribution of the alveolar compartment to exhaled nitric oxide (alveolar nitric oxide or CANO) can be calculated as a surrogate of distal inflammation. This value should be corrected for nitric oxide produced in the conducting airways which “back-diffuses” into the alveolar compartment (Corrected CANO). Impulse oscillometry (IOS) (Nava et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 168:1432–1437, 2003) is used to derive values for peripheral airways resistance. Twenty-four healthy volunteers, 21 severe asthmatics, 15 mild-to-moderate asthmatics, and 24 COPD patients were assessed with spirometry, impulse oscillometry, and fractionated exhaled nitric oxide. Compared to healthy volunteers, FENO was higher in mild-to-moderate and severe asthmatics: geometric mean fold ratios of 1.91 (P = 0.02) and 2.74 (P < 0.001), respectively. However, there was no difference for mild-to-moderate versus severe asthma. Ratios for CANO were not different for severe asthma versus COPD, but both were elevated compared to that of healthy volunteers [2.64 (P < 0.001) and 3.07 (P < 0.001), respectively] and mild-to-moderate asthma [1.95 (P = 0.04) and 2.28 (P < 0.01)]. However, after correction for axial diffusion, Corrected CANO was increased in COPD compared to severe asthma (geometric mean fold ratio 1.28, P = 0.04), mild-to-moderate asthma (1.34, P < 0.01), and healthy volunteers (1.28, P = 0.02), and there was no difference between other groups. R5 and RF were reduced in healthy volunteers versus mild-to-moderate asthma (P = 0.011 and P < 0.001 respectively), severe asthma (P = 0.002 and P < 0.001), and COPD (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001). Peripheral resistance (R5–R20) was not different for healthy versus mild-to-moderate asthma but was higher in severe asthma (P < 0.001) and COPD (P < 0.001). Correlations were observed between R5–R20 versus FEF25–75 (r = 0.71, P < 0.01), CANO (r = 0.44, P < 0.01), and Corrected CANO (r = 0.24, P < 0.01). CANO and IOS provide additional information to traditional measures of spirometry and tidal nitric oxide. Previous data reporting elevated alveolar nitric oxide in severe asthma may reflect back-diffusion of nitric oxide from the conducting airways into the alveolar compartment. Corrected CANO and IOS may prove to be useful noninvasive measurements of small-airways disease.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Asthma & Allergy Research Group, Centre for Cardiovascular & Lung Biology, Division of Medical Sciences, Ninewells Hospital & Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 9SY, UK

    Peter A. Williamson, Karine Clearie, Daniel Menzies, Sriram Vaidyanathan & Brian J. Lipworth

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  1. Peter A. Williamson
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  2. Karine Clearie
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  3. Daniel Menzies
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  4. Sriram Vaidyanathan
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  5. Brian J. Lipworth
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Correspondence to Brian J. Lipworth.

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Williamson, P.A., Clearie, K., Menzies, D. et al. Assessment of Small-Airways Disease Using Alveolar Nitric Oxide and Impulse Oscillometry in Asthma and COPD. Lung 189, 121–129 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-010-9275-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-010-9275-y

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