An algorithm based on exhaled nitric oxide leads to fewer exacerbations in pregnant women with non-eosinophilic asthma than responding to symptoms alone, an Australian study shows.

Researchers led by Professor Peter Gibson from the University of Newcastle and John Hunter Hospital, have demonstrated how to optimise treatment for this group in a reanalysis of data from the Australian Managing Asthma in Pregnancy (MAP) trial reported in the Lancet in 2011.

That trial, in 220 non-smoking women with asthma who were 22 weeks into pregnancy, showed exacerbations halved in those randomised to treatment using an algorithm where fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) measurements determined decisions on ICS and LABA doses.

Women treated solely in response to symptoms made up the control group.