The influence of age on induced sputum differential cell counts in normal subjects.
OBJECTIVE
Sputum induction is increasingly used as a research technique and as a clinical tool. In order to evaluate abnormal results, normal ranges need to be fully developed. Although a number of studies have described normal ranges, none have investigated the effect of the age of the subject on these results. This study was undertaken to assess whether there are age-related differences in sputum cell differential cell counts in a population of normal, healthy volunteers.


METHODS
Induced sputum samples were obtained from 66 healthy, nonsmoking subjects (24 men) with a mean age of 44 years (age range, 18 to 74 years). Differential cell counts were related to age.


RESULTS
Sputum neutrophil counts were found to correlate significantly with the age of the volunteers (r = 0.58; p < 0.001). Macrophage counts showed a proportionate, inverse correlation with increasing age (p < 0.01), but no correlation was seen for any other cell type. On subanalysis according to age range, the mean neutrophil differential increased from 26.9% (SD, 19.8%) [17 patients] in the group of patients who were 0 to 29 years of age to 68.5% (SD, 20.6%) [11 patients] in the group of patients who were > 60 years of age.


CONCLUSIONS
In our healthy volunteer population, the induced sputum differential neutrophil count increased significantly with age. These findings highlight the need for age matching in controlled studies.
Thomas
Rebecca A
RA
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Glenfield Hospital, Groby Road, Leicester LE3 9QP, UK.
Green
Ruth H
RH
Brightling
Chris E
CE
Birring
Surinder S
SS
Parker
Debbie
D
Wardlaw
Andrew J
AJ
Pavord
Ian D
ID
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology; D002452:Cell Count; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D013183:Sputum / Q000166:cytology*