title: Chronic sinusitis in severe asthma is related to sputum eosinophilia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic rhinosinusitis and asthma are conditions that frequently coexist, particularly in severe asthma. The precise mechanism of the relationship between upper and lower airway inflammation is still a matter of debate. We hypothesized that the extent of inflammation in the nasal mucosa is related to lung function and inflammation in the bronchial mucosa in patients with severe asthma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to investigate the relationship between sinonasal inflammation as assessed on computed tomography (CT) scanning, lung function, sputum eosinophilia, and nitric oxide (NO) in exhaled air in patients with severe asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-nine nonsmoking outpatients with severe asthma (29 men and 60 women; mean age 45 years; age range, 18-74 years) were included in this study. CT scans were scored (0-30) by a blinded investigator using a validated method. Lung function, NO in exhaled air, and sputum eosinophils were measured by using standard procedures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CT scans showed abnormalities in 84% of patients. Extensive sinus disease (score 12-30) was found in 24% of patients. There was a significant positive correlation between CT scores and eosinophils in peripheral blood (R(s) = 0.46) and induced sputum (R(s) = 0.40) and level of exhaled NO (R(s) = 0.45, P <.01). CT scores were also positively related to functional residual capacity and inversely related to diffusion capacity, particularly in patients with adult-onset asthma (R(s) = 0.47 and R(s) = -0.53, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study show a direct relationship between sinonasal mucosa thickness and bronchial inflammation in severe asthma, particularly in patients with adult-onset disease. Whether sinus disease directly affects the intensity of bronchial inflammation is still an unanswered question.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Anneke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: ten Brinke
authors.forename: Diana C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Grootendorst
authors.forename: Judith Th
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Francisca T
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: De Bruïne
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: van Buchem
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Sterk
authors.forename: Klaus F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Rabe
authors.forename: Elisabeth H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Bel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000150:complications; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013183:Sputum / Q000166:cytology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide