RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Induced sputum and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in COPD patients
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP P1002
VO 44
IS Suppl 58
A1 Francesca Cherubino
A1 Daniela Adamo
A1 Sabrina Della Patrona
A1 Patrizia Pignatti
A1 Eleonora Raimondi
A1 Antonio Spanevello
A1 Andrea Zanini
YR 2014
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P1002.abstract
AB Introduction: Bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) is often thought to be a hallmark of asthma, yet it has been shown to occur in up to two-thirds of patients with COPD as well. Whereas in asthma, BHR is associated with both baseline level of FEV1 and eosinophilic airway inflammation, the factors underlying BHR in COPD are not completely known.Objectives: We evaluated the relationship between BHR, lung function and airway inflammation in COPD patients.Methods: Twenty-six patients with stable mild-to-moderate COPD (age 67±8 yrs, 5 F; FEV1 67±18%, FEV1/VC 53±11%) were studied. All patients were stable and steroids free. We investigated lung function, including body plethysmography, reversibility, diffuse lung capacity (TL,CO/VA%), provocative dose of methacholine causing a 20% fall in FEV1, and sputum induction. Patients were considered to be hyperresponsive when they had a PD20≤1600 µg.Results: Twenty-one patients completed the procedures. Seven out of 21 patients (33%) were hyperresponsive (PD20 mean 378 µg, range 95-872 µg). No differences were observed in lung function and in the induced sputum total and differential cell counts, between hyperresponsive and non-hyperresponsive patients. Five patients had sputum eosinophils > 3%, but no differences were observed in lung function and BHR between patients with and without sputum eosinophils.Conclusions: Our preliminary study confirms that BHR can occur in a considerable number of COPD patients. In contrast with previous data, we did not found differences between hyperresponsive and non-hyperresponsive patients in terms of airway inflammation. Further data are needed to elucidate the relationships between BHR, lung function, and airway inflammation in COPD.