The utility of sputum eosinophils and exhaled nitric oxide for monitoring asthma control with special attention to childhood asthma.
The monitoring of sputum eosinophils has received certain attention as a tool for improving asthma management both in children and in adults. The present paper reviews the technique and also the usefulness of induced sputum in the diagnosis and assessment of asthma, together with its ability to predict the response to treatment and to anticipate asthma exacerbations. Special attention is addressed to childhood asthma. The authors conclude that due to cost-effectiveness reasons derived from high labour costs, together with the unpleasantness of the technique and the failure to obtain adequate samples in a non-negligible percentage of children, this technique should be only used for research purposes.
Garcia-Marcos
L
L
Paediatric Respiratory Unit, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Children's Hospital, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain. lgmarcos@um.es
Brand
P L
PL
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001944:Breath Tests; D002452:Cell Count / Q000191:economics; D002648:Child; D004229:Dithiothreitol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013048:Specimen Handling; D013183:Sputum / Q000166:cytology*
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D004229:Dithiothreitol