Diagnosing and monitoring asthma just got easier From Spotlight on Health - Winter 2013

New test helps to determine effectiveness of medication

Asthma educator Kevin May, LPN, uses FeNO testing to monitor 17-year-old Cedar Larson’s asthma. This test helps to determine how well inhaled anti-inflammatory medications are working.

It is a fact. Humans produce gas, and for treating asthma, that’s a good thing. Nitric oxide gas is naturally produced in human airways and is detectable in the exhaled breath. Measuring the level of nitric oxide in our breath can help doctors with the diagnosis and management of asthma and other lung diseases. Exhaled nitric oxide levels will be high in many patients with untreated or poorly managed asthma and will decrease when asthma therapy is started and asthma is controlled.

A new test called fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) can help to determine how well inhaled anti-inflammatory medications (such as steroid inhalers) are working.

“This simple test provides additional assistance in diagnosing and monitoring patients with asthma,” said Stephen Leslie, MD, adult and pediatric allergy and asthma specialist with CentraCare Clinic. “It also can help us to determine appropriate medication levels for patients with asthma or other lung diseases.”

FeNO testing is useful with young children, who are not always able to understand and follow directions with other methods of lung function testing. The test requires no preparation, is very easy to complete (taking only a few minutes) and is non-threatening for both children and adults.

For more information about FeNO testing, call CentraCare Clinic’s allergy and asthma specialists at (320) 654-3650.