Abbreviations: E-IS = early induced-sputum collection; IS = induced sputum; L-IS = late induced-sputum collection Airway inflammation in censorious asthma may indicate prognosis and guide therapy.

Abbreviations: E-IS = early induced-sputum collection; IS = induced sputum; L-IS = late induced-sputum collection

Airway inflammation in censorious asthma may indicate prognosis and guide therapy. Noninvasive assessment of airway inflammation using induced sputum (IS) could allow monitoring of answer to therapy. The late fraction of IS has been reported to sample the distal lung more than the early fraction. (1) We examined whether early IS collection (E-IS; first 10 min) and late IS collection (L-IS; secondary 10 min) of differentials correlated with BAL and endobronchial biopsy inflammatory small rooms in normal subjects, and make liables with mild, moderate, and austere asthma.

E-IS showed a significantly raised neutrophil reckon compared to L-IS (n = 18 p = 002) on the contrary no difference in total solitary abode; squalid count; all other cell protoplasts including epithelial and squamous small cavitys were not significantly different between the sum of two units collections. E-IS and BAL eosinophils were significantly correlated (n = 20 [rho] = 072 [rho] = 00004) in all arranges and in asthma alone (n = 10 p = 082 p = 0004); L-IS showed weaker correlations for percentage of eosinophils with BAL ([rho] = 051 p = 005 in all groups; [rho] = 081 p=0049 in asthma). There were no significant correlations between either E-IS or L-IS with BAL for other solitary abode; squalid types, and no significant correlations of E-IS or L-IS inflammatory solitary abode; squalids with any submucosal cell stamps (lymphocytes-CD3, macrophages-CD68, neutrophil, or activated eosinophils-EG2+).

E-IS and to a less extent L-IS were highly correlated with BAL for eosinophils in all collections and in asthma, but did not correlate with endobronchial biopsy submucosal inflammatory small room counts. This may be attributed to the fact that sputum and BAL sample the airway lumen whereas the cellular inflammation in the airway submucosa may be distinct. IS could be used to monitor luminal eosinophilic inflammation still probably not mucosal inflammation in asthma.

REFERENCE

(1) Gershman NH Liu H Wong HH et al. Fractional analysis of sequential induced sputum samples during sputum induction: evidence that different lung compartments are sampled at different time points. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1999; 104:322-328

* From the National Jewish Medical and Research Center University of Colorado Health Sciences Center Denver CO

supplyed by HL-64087, AI-40600, American Lung Association of Colorado, and RR00015

Reproduction of this article is prohibited without written permission from the American association of Chest Physicians (e-mail: permissions@chestnet.org).

Correspondence to: Philip E Silkoff, MD FCCP National Jewish Medical and Research Center 1400 Jackson St Denver CO 80206; e-mail: silkoffp@njc.org

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