title: Sputum eosinophilia in Churg-Strauss syndrome.
abstract: Sputum induction (IS) can be used to study airway inflammation in asthmatics and other lung diseases. However, no data are available for patients with Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS). A study was carried out to evaluate eosinophil counts and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels in induced sputum during the follow-up of three patients with CSS. Induced sputum was carried out in 10 patients with corticosteroid-dependent asthma (used as a control group). Patients with CSS had significantly higher eosinophils percentages and ECP levels in sputum than those with stable corticosteroid-dependent asthma. During the follow-up, patients with CSS presented increased ECP levels sputum and eosinophils in sputum as well as increased blood eosinophils, despite their oral corticosteroid and immunosuppressive treatment. Eosinophil percentage in sputum and the total number of eosinophils in peripheral blood were more predictive of exacerbations of CSS than sputum ECP.
authors.affiliation: Clinique des Maladies Respiratoires and INSERM U 454, Hospital Arnaud deVilleneuve, CHU Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meziane
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Maakel
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vachier
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bousquet
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chanez
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D015267:Churg-Strauss Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012260:Ribonucleases; D013183:Sputum / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D012260:Ribonucleases