RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Methods of examining induced sputum: do differences matter?
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 529
OP 533
DO 10.1183/09031936.98.11030529
VO 11
IS 3
A1 JC Kips
A1 RA Peleman
A1 RA Pauwels
YR 1998
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/11/3/529.abstract
AB Analysis of induced sputum has been proposed as a direct, relatively noninvasive method for the evaluation of airway inflammation in diseases such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). An important question in the validation of this technique concerns the potential influence of differences in the methods of examining sputum. Up to the present time, two basic techniques for processing sputum have been described. The first approach consists of selecting all viscid portions from the expectorated sample, whereas the second approach processes the whole expectorate, containing sputum plus saliva. Both processing techniques have been shown to provide valid and reliable data on the composition of the cellular and soluble fraction of induced sputum. From the data currently available, it would therefore appear that the usefulness of induced sputum as a method for assessing airway inflammation is not influenced by differences in the methods currently used for examining sputum.