RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Reference values of exhaled nitric oxide in healthy asian children age 5 to 18 years JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP erj00139-2011 DO 10.1183/09031936.00013911 A1 T-C. Yao A1 W-I. Lee A1 L-S. Ou A1 L-C. Chen A1 K-W. Yeh A1 J-L. Huang A1 for the PATCH Study Group YR 2011 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/early/2011/06/30/09031936.00013911.abstract AB This study was undertaken to establish reference values of fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and its determinants in healthy Asian children.Six hundred and ninety-three healthy Asian children aged 5–18 years were assessed using a single-breath online FeNO measurement (exhaled flow 50 mL·second−1), questionnaires, anthropometric measurements, spirometry, and total and specific immunoglobulin E (IgE).Geometric mean FeNO and the upper 95% confidence limit were 13.7 ppb and 49.7 ppb, respectively, for healthy children and 11.2 ppb and 30.2 ppb, respectively, for those without allergic sensitization. FeNO was positively associated with age, allergic sensitization, total IgE, ambient nitric oxide, measurement in the afternoon, and drinking water within one hour before testing, and negatively associated with weight. In healthy children without allergic sensitization, age was the single best explanatory variable. The FeNO predicted values were 1–2 ppb higher in Asian than in Caucasian children in earlier studies, while the upper 95% confidence limits were 9–10 ppb higher.In conclusion, the upper limits of normal FeNO in Asian children depend on age, from 21 ppb in young children to 39 ppb in adolescents. Ethnicity, age, allergic sensitization, total IgE, ambient nitric oxide, time of testing, drinking water, and weight are important determinants.