RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Functional and immunological abnormalities in patients with severe asthma JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP P2014 VO 42 IS Suppl 57 A1 Olga Kharevich A1 Irina Lapteva A1 Elena Lapteva A1 Elena Koroleva A1 Natalia Shpakouskaya YR 2013 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P2014.abstract AB Introduction. Patients with severe asthma tend to have impaired lung function and immune imbalance despite the high-intensity treatment.Aims. The aim of the study was to reveal the functional and immunological abnormalities in severe asthma as compared with nonsevere disease.Methods. In the recent research we have studied the functional parameters and serum cytokine levels in 41 patients with severe asthma and in 42 patients with nonsevere disease.Results. We found lower spirometric values, the presence of irreversible airway obstruction (IAO, in 76% patients), increased ratio of residual volume to total lung capacity (RV/TLC) and decreased diffusion capacity of the lungs (DLCO) in severe asthma group as compared with nonsevere. Serum cytokine profile in patients with severe asthma characterized by increased levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IFN-γ. We revealed correlation between the presence of IAO and increased RV/TLC, and between the development of air-trapping (estimated at RV/TLC>140% pred) and reduced DLCO. Also, the IAO and air-trapping correlated with the lower level of IL-4 in patients with severe asthma.Conclusion. Severe asthma is characterized by the development of irreversible airflow limitation, air trapping, decreased diffusion capacity, which suggests that these patients tend to have more considerable airway remodeling, including structural changes in small airways. Imbalance in Thl/Th2 cytokine production in severe asthma indicates that immunological processes in severe asthma are different from the mechanisms of nonsevere disease.