A test will determine how to treat a chronic cough

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

A nitric oxide test is useful in determining whether a chronic cough will actually respond to treatment.
Chronic cough is a common and annoying problem, affecting as many as 23 million Americans each year. In fact, it's the third most frequent reason for a physician visit according to Mayo Clinic researchers. A chronic cough is one that goes on for three to eight weeks, or even longer. There are three major causes for a chronic cough - postnasal drip syndrome, asthma, and gastroesophageal reflux.

The exhaled nitric oxide test measures inflammation in the bronchial tubes of the lungs. An abnormal score reveals either asthma or non-asthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis, which is a less common cause of chronic cough. In this study, 114 patients underwent the nitric oxide test and this led to 64 of them having inhaled corticosteroid treatment - or an increase in current steroid treatment. Forty one of them actually had elevated nitric oxide and, of these, 88 per cent were improved by corticosteroid treatment. Improvement was less likely among those whose nitric oxide levels were normal. The findings suggest that the nitric oxide test is a useful way of determining treatment for those who present with a chronic cough.

Source
European Respiratory Society meeting 6th September 2006

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