title: Relationship between induced sputum cytology and inflammatory status with lung structural and functional abnormalities in asbestosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Asbestosis is associated with lung cellular and immunological abnormalities. Induced sputum cytology and local and systemic markers of inflammation may be helpful to characterize disease status and progression in these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine ex-workers with asbestosis on high-resolution CT (HRCT) and 21 non-exposed controls were evaluated. Sputum cytology and IL-8 in serum and sputum were related to lung function impairment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects with asbestosis had reduced sputum cellularity but higher macrophage/neutrophil ratio and % macrophage as compared with controls. Sputum and serum IL-8 were also higher in patients with asbestosis (P < 0.05). In addition, evidence of lung architectural distorption on HRCT was associated with increased levels of serum IL-8. Interestingly, absolute macrophage number was negatively correlated with total lung capacity (r = -0.40; P = 0.04) and serum IL-8 to lung diffusing capacity (r = -0.45; P = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Occupationally exposed subjects with asbestosis on HRCT have cytologic abnormalities in induced sputum and increased local and systemic pro-inflammatory status which are correlated to functional impairment.
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Division- Federal University of São Paulo, (UNIFESP)- São Paulo, SP, Brazil. jhalesetta@uol.com.br
authors.forename: José Henrique
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Setta
authors.forename: José Alberto
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Neder
authors.forename: Ericson
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bagatin
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Terra-Filho
authors.forename: Lara Maris
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Nápolis
authors.forename: Simone Dal
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Corso
authors.forename: Maria Marta Ferreira
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Amorin
authors.forename: Reynaldo Tavares
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Ana Luísa Godoy
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Luiz Eduardo
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Nery
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001195:Asbestosis / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001938:Brazil; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013147:Spirometry; D013183:Sputum / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D016209:Interleukin-8