%0 Journal Article %A Rachel Nadif %A Marta Rava %A Brigitte Decoster %A Hélène Huyvaert %A Nicole Le Moual %A Jean Bousquet %A Valérie Siroux %A Raphaëlle Varraso %A Isabelle Pin %A Farid Zerimech %A Régis Matran %T Exhaled nitric oxide, nitrite/nitrate levels, allergy, rhinitis and asthma in the EGEA study %D 2014 %R 10.1183/09031936.00202413 %J European Respiratory Journal %P 351-360 %V 44 %N 2 %X Although interest in biomarkers in the nitrate–nitrite–NO pathway has recently increased, associations between nitrite (NO2−) and nitrate (NO3−), and asthma, allergic sensitisation and rhinitis remain unclear. The study aimed to evaluate the associations between NO2−/NO3− and exhaled fraction of nitric oxide (FeNO) levels with asthma, allergic sensitisation and rhinitis. Plasma and exhaled breath condensate (EBC) NO2−/NO3− and FeNO levels were measured in 523 adults of the French Epidemiological study on Genetics and Environment of Asthma. Allergic sensitisation was defined by a positive skin prick test for at least one aeroallergen. Subjects were classified as non-sensitised, sensitised and as having allergic rhinitis. Plasma NO2−/NO3− level was unrelated to any disease phenotypes. EBC NO2−/NO3− level was unrelated to any asthma phenotypes. EBC NO2−/NO3− and FeNO levels were correlated in sensitised subjects only (r=0.21±0.10, p=0.01). EBC NO2−/NO3− and FeNO levels were higher in sensitised than in non-sensitised subjects (adjusted geometric mean (95% CI): 2.36 (1.96–2.84) versus 1.72 (1.38–2.14) μmol per mg proteins, p=0.008; and 18.3 (16.7–20.0) versus 14.8 (13.3–16.5) ppb, p=0.0006, respectively), with gradual relationships from sensitised subjects to those with allergic rhinitis (p<0.0001). Results suggest that EBC NO2−/NO3− and FeNO levels may be considered as biological markers of intensity of allergic sensitisation and rhinitis. The EGEA study: exhaled nitrate/nitrite/NO levels may be considered markers for intensity of allergy and rhinitis http://ow.ly/uKbxh %U https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/erj/44/2/351.full.pdf