Measurement of Markers of Inflammation in Induced Sputum and Exhaled Air

Induced sputum is safe in both children (Venge et al. 1977) and adults (Gibson et al. 2002; Green et al. 2002a), repeatable, inexpensive, and provides a clinically relevant marker of airway inflammation in the assessment and treatment of asthma. It can also be used to measure a variety of cells, effector mediators, cellular markers, and cytokines and its use has led to new insights into the pathophysiology and management of asthma and other airways disease. FENO is a reasonably reliable marker of eosinophilic airway inflammation that can be measured simply and noninvasively. The clinical value of measuring FENO has not been explored extensively but it could be a valuable tool for diagnosis and monitoring of corticosteroid-responsive airways disease in primary care. © 2008 Blackwell Publishing.