Tim Gomersal1, Sue Harnan1, Munira Essat1, Paul Tappenden1, Ruth Wong1, Rod Lawson2, Ian Pavord3, Mark Lloyd Everard4. 1. School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom. 2. Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, United Kingdom. 3. University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, United Kingdom. 4. School of Paediatrics and Child Health, Princess Margaret Hospital, Respiratory Medicine, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is a non-invasive biomarker of eosinophilic inflammation which may be used to guide the management of asthma in childhood. OBJECTIVES: To synthesise the available evidence on the efficacy of FeNO-guided management of childhood asthma. METHODS: Databases including MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library were searched, and randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing FeNO-guided management with any other monitoring strategy were included. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool for RCTs, and a number of outcomes were examined, including: exacerbations, medication use, quality of life, adverse events, and other markers of asthma control. Meta-analyses were planned if multiple studies with suitable heterogeneity were available. However, due to wide variations in study characteristics, meta-analysis was not possible. RESULTS: Seven RCTs were identified. There was some evidence that FeNO-guided monitoring results in improved asthma control during the first year of management, although few results attained statistical significance. The impact on severe exacerbations was unclear. Similarly, the impact on use of anti-asthmatic drugs was unclear, and appears to depend on the step up/down protocols, and the clinical characteristics of patients. CONCLUSIONS: The potential benefit of FeNO monitoring is equivocal. Trends toward reduced exacerbation and increased medication use were seen, but typically failed to reach statistical significance. There are a number of issues that complicate data interpretation, including differences in the likely severity of included cohorts and variations in treatment algorithms. Further work is needed to systematically explore the impact of these parameters.
BACKGROUND: Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is a non-invasive biomarker of eosinophilic inflammation which may be used to guide the management of asthma in childhood. OBJECTIVES: To synthesise the available evidence on the efficacy of FeNO-guided management of childhood asthma. METHODS: Databases including MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library were searched, and randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing FeNO-guided management with any other monitoring strategy were included. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool for RCTs, and a number of outcomes were examined, including: exacerbations, medication use, quality of life, adverse events, and other markers of asthma control. Meta-analyses were planned if multiple studies with suitable heterogeneity were available. However, due to wide variations in study characteristics, meta-analysis was not possible. RESULTS: Seven RCTs were identified. There was some evidence that FeNO-guided monitoring results in improved asthma control during the first year of management, although few results attained statistical significance. The impact on severe exacerbations was unclear. Similarly, the impact on use of anti-asthmatic drugs was unclear, and appears to depend on the step up/down protocols, and the clinical characteristics of patients. CONCLUSIONS: The potential benefit of FeNO monitoring is equivocal. Trends toward reduced exacerbation and increased medication use were seen, but typically failed to reach statistical significance. There are a number of issues that complicate data interpretation, including differences in the likely severity of included cohorts and variations in treatment algorithms. Further work is needed to systematically explore the impact of these parameters.
Authors: Amelia Licari; Ilaria Brambilla; Alessia Marseglia; Maria De Filippo; Valeria Paganelli; Gian L Marseglia Journal: Front Pediatr Date: 2018-06-19 Impact factor: 3.418
Authors: Munira Essat; Sue Harnan; Tim Gomersall; Paul Tappenden; Ruth Wong; Ian Pavord; Rod Lawson; Mark L Everard Journal: Eur Respir J Date: 2016-02-04 Impact factor: 16.671