TY - JOUR T1 - Elevated Tryptase concentration In bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with chronic eosinophilic pneumonia JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 44 IS - Suppl 58 SP - P1040 AU - Mitsuko Kondo AU - Etsuko Tagaya AU - Jun Tamaoki Y1 - 2014/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P1040.abstract N2 - Background; Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP) generally responds to steroid therapy. However, relapse frequently occurs and prolonged steroid therapy is needed. Tryptase released from activated mast cells is associated with intractable pathogenesis. Little is known of the clinical significance on measurement of tryptase in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from patients with eosinophilic pneumonia.Methods; The BALF from 20 patients with eosinophilic pneumonia [CEP 11 patients, Acute eosinophilic pneumonia (AEP) 4 patients, Drug-induced eosiophilic pneumonia (Drug) 5 patients] was analyzed by B12 a monoclonal antibody-based tryptase immunofluoroassay. The relationship between clinical characteristics and tryptase in BALF was analyzed retrospectively.Results; Tryptase in BALF could be detected in 9 patients (CEP 8, AEP 1; the tryptase-positive group), but not in 11 patients (CEP 3, AEP 3, Drug 5). The concentrations of tryptase in the tryptase-positive group were 2.23 ± 0.20 ng/ml in CEP (n=9, Mean±SE) and 1.0 ng/ml in AEP (n=1). The tryptase concentration was significantly higher in CEP than in AEP and Drug (p < 0.05). The frequency of recurrence was higher in tryptase-positive group. Ten patients with CEP had asthma history. Of them, one patient had allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis and two had chronic eosinophilic sinusitis. The weak correlation between tryptase level and serum IgE in CEP was observed.Conclusion; Tryptase in BALF can be detected in patients with CEP. The tryptase-positive patients with CEP tended to relapse and have complication of asthma. Mast cell tryptase may be associated with intractable pathogenesis in CEP. ER -