Targeting Biologic Markers in Asthma — Is Exhaled Nitric Oxide the Bull's-Eye?

Abstract

Clinicians caring for patients with asthma need help. Asthma affects approximately 27 million persons in the United States. Despite the availability of effective therapies, asthma remains a source of significant morbidity and use of health care resources.¹ National and international guidelines recommend that patients with persistent symptoms use inhaled corticosteroids as first-line therapy. On the basis of findings such as daytime or nighttime symptoms and impaired pulmonary function (as measured both at home and in the clinic), these guidelines also provide algorithms for increasing the doses of these medicines and adding other treatments.²⁴ However, the practical application of these . . .