The measurement of exhaled nitric oxide is taken for the most important noninvasive inflammatory marker recently ušed in asthma. Although the importance of exhaled nitric oxide is not definite for the diagnosis, the number of studies supporting the measurement of eNO for the purpose is rising. The usefulness of this method consists in possible monitoring of inflammation and the assessment of therapeutic effectiveness. The article provides present knowledge about the new noninvasive diagnostic method in asthma and the pos- sibility of using it in clinical practice.

        Key words: nitric oxide - asthma - inflammation