Exhalation Fraction of Nitric Oxide (FENO) as a biomarker of airway inflammation in asthmatic adults from Valencia, Venezuela, 2025
Keywords:
Asthma, Nitric Oxide, Biomarkers, Inflammation, FeNOAbstract
Background. Asthma is a heterogeneous disease characterized by chronic airway inflammation, the diagnosis of which is critical for the patient's favorable outcome. Since it can be confused with other conditions, recently, the determination of Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) has been used to identify the asthma subtype or to evaluate the therapy in place. Objective: To determine FeNO levels in a cohort of adult asthmatic patients seen at the Pulmonology clinic at the "La Viña" Polyclinic Center, Valencia, during the period September-October 2025. Material and Methods: Descriptive, observational, and cross-sectional study. Seventeen asthmatic patients were evaluated (61% women, 39% men) with ages ranging from 18 to 80 years. Measurements were carried out using the portable electrochemical device NObreath® following international standards. FeNO levels were categorized as: Low (<25 ppb), Intermediate (25-50 ppb), and High (>50 ppb). Results: 100% of patients had FeNO levels above 25 ppb. 35% (n=6) were in the intermediate range, while 65% (n=11) had high levels (>50 ppb), indicative of a significant eosinophilic inflammatory response. Conclusions: The high frequency of elevated FeNO levels in the sample suggests a persistence of airway inflammation, highlighting its usefulness for clinical monitoring and therapeutic adjustment in asthmatic patients in our setting.
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