Budesonide but not nedocromil sodium reduces exhaled nitric oxide levels in asthmatic children

Exhaled nitric oxide (ENO) has been proposed as a marker of airway inflammation in asthma and could be useful to evaluate the response to anti-inflammatory treatment. We investigated the effect of budesonide and nedocromil sodium on ENO levels and lung function in asthmatic children. Twenty stable steroid-naı̈ve asthmatic children were randomized in a single blind, cross-over study to receive inhaled budesonide (group A) or nedocromil sodium (group B) for 6 weeks. ENO was measured with a chemiluminescence analyser at baseline and at the end of each treatment period. Repeated-measures ANOVA was carried out. In asthmatic baseline ENO levels [mean 32·5 ppb, 95% confidence interval (CI) 26·4 to 38·7] were significantly higher compared to reference values (8·7 ppb, 95% CI 8·1 to 9·2,P