Can Sputum Eosinophilia Be a Constant Feature in Severe Refractory Asthmatics? A 3-Year Longitudinal Study

Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2015;166(4):287-90. doi: 10.1159/000381853. Epub 2015 May 9.

Abstract

In difficult-to-treat asthmatics, uncontrolled despite a high level of therapy and followed for 3 years with a mean number of sputum samples/patient = 10, sputum eosinophilia (≥3%) was observed in 87% of all sputum samples. Persistent sputum eosinophilia is a characteristic of severe uncontrolled asthma.

Publication types

  • Observational Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Asthma / immunology*
  • Eosinophilia / immunology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Sputum / immunology*