System to be used for the determination of no levels in exhaled air and diagnostic methods for disorders related to abnormal no levels

A method for diagnosis of inflammatory conditions in airways of humans, comprising:

• measuring the level of NO in nasally exhaled air to obtain a measured value for endogenously produced NO in said nasally exhaled air;
• and
• comparing the measured value against a reference value based an values typical for healthy individuals, wherein a level lower than values typical for healthy individuals is taken as an indication of an acute inflammation in the upper airways.

A method for diagnosis of inflammatory conditions in an airway of a human having a mouth, a nasal cavity, an upper airway and a lower airway, comprising:

• inhaling through the mouth of said human when an indication of the condition of the lower airways is desired and determining the level of NO in orally exhaled air, and when an indication of thc condition of the upper airways is desired, determining the level of NO in nasally exhaled air or in an air sample taken from the nasal cavity.

A method for diagnosis of inflammatory conditions in upper airways of a human having a mouth, a nasal cavity, and upper airway and a lower airway, comprising:

• taking a gas sample from the nasal cavity;
• and
• determining the level of NO in said sample, wherein a level higher than values typical for healthy individuals is taken as an indication of an inflammatory condition in the upper airways.

A method for diagnosis of inflammatory conditions in upper airways of a human having a mouth, a nasal cavity, and upper airway and a lower airway, comprising:

• taking an air sample from the nasal cavity;
• and
• determining the level of NO in said sample wherein a level lower than values typical for healthy individuals is taken as an indication of an acute inflammation in the upper airways.

A method for the diagnosis of inflammatory conditions in airways of a human patient having a nasal cavity, comprising:

• taking a gas sample from the nasal cavity of the patient while the patient is holding his/her breath;
• and
• determining the level of NO in said gas sample in order to perform the diagnosis of inflammatory conditions in the airways.

A method for diagnosis of inflammatory conditions in airways of a human having a nasal cavity, comprising:

• exhaling orally against a flow-regulator while a sample is taken from the nasal cavity;
• and
• determining the level of NO in said sample in order to perform the diagnosis of inflammatory conditions in the airways.

A method for diagnosis of gastro-esophageal disorders in humans, comprising:

• determining the level of NO in regurgitated air and taking an altered level of NO in relation to a level typical for a healthy population as an indication of a disease associated with altered levels of NO production.

A method for diagnosis of gastric reflux in humans, comprising;

• determining the level of NO in breathing air, over a predetermined period of time, wherein an occurrence of peak NO levels, compared to a baseline level during said period of tire, is taken as an indication of gastric reflux.

A method for monitoring effects of treatment with drugs inhibiting gastric acid secretion, comprising:

• administering a drug to a subject;
• and determining the level of NO in regurgitated air of said subject after administration of said drug.