title: Comparative clinical and airway inflammatory features of asthmatics with or without polyps.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nasal polyposis (NP) is associated with a more severe and steroid-resistant asthma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare clinical and airway inflammatory features of asthmatics with or without NP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two groups of asthmatic patients were studied: group 1; n=39, with NP; group 2; n=40, without NP. Asthma control was assessed according to the Asthma Control Scoring System (ACSS). Expiratory flows, induced sputum, and blood eosinophils were also measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ACSS score was lower (poorer control) in group 1 (meanA+-SEM = 73A+-3%) compared with group 2 (82A+-2%, p=0.01). FEV1 (mean of predicted value A+- SEM) was 81A+-3 for group 1 and 96A+-3 for group 2 (p=0.001), and the FEV1/FVC ratio was lower in group 1 (70A+-2%) compared with group 2 (76A+-1%, p=0.01). Blood and induced sputum eosinophils, as well as fibronectin and eosinophil cationic protein levels, were higher in group 1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Asthmatic subjects with NP have increased airway obstruction, increased inflammatory cells and reduced asthma control compared to those without NP. This may suggest a contribution of nasal polyps to the severity of asthma or a common susceptibility to develop upper and lower airways mucosal inflammation.
authors: Centre de Recherche de l'Institute Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec , Québec, Canada.
authors: Lara
authors: L
authors: Bilodeau
authors: Marie-Eve
authors: ME
authors: Boulay
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: Prince
authors: Pierre
authors: P
authors: Boisvert
authors: Louis-Philippe
authors: LP
authors: Boulet
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004351:Drug Resistance; D047150:Eosinophil Cationic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012882:Skin Tests; D013147:Spirometry; D013183:Sputum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D005353:Fibronectins; D047150:Eosinophil Cationic Protein