title: Latent pulmonary inflammation in patients with systemic sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Induced sputum is a non-invasive method for studying pulmonary inflammation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess pulmonary inflammation by analysis of induced sputum specimens in patients with systemic sclerosis and lung involvement, and to determine whether there is a correlation with the pulmonary function alterations in these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five patients with systemic sclerosis were included (20 women). Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the type of lung involvement: group 1, diffuse interstitial lung disease (n=10); group 2, those with pulmonary arterial hypertension (n=7), and group 3, patients with systemic sclerosis without lung involvement (n=8). All patients underwent a complete lung function study. Induced sputum samples were obtained and differential cell count was performed by optic microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean percentage of sputum neutrophils was 85%, 71%, and 75% for groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. A significant negative correlation between sputum total cell count and DLCO was seen in group 1 and group 3 (r=-0.733, P=.016; and r=-0.893, P=.007, respectively). This negative correlation was not observed in group 2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pulmonary inflammation was present in all patients with systemic sclerosis included in the study, regardless of the presence of documented signs of pulmonary involvement. This finding suggests that induced sputum could be helpful for detecting early abnormalities indicative of subclinical pulmonary involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis.
authors: Servei de Pneumologia, Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Sánchez-Vidaurre
authors: Carmen Pilar
authors: CP
authors: Simeón
authors: Maria Jesús
authors: MJ
authors: Cruz
authors: Vicente
authors: V
authors: Fonollosa
authors: Miguel
authors: M
authors: Vilardell
authors: Ferran
authors: F
authors: Morell
authors: Xavier
authors: X
authors: Muñoz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D002452:Cell Count; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D007249:Inflammation; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications*; D013183:Sputum / Q000166:cytology; D055815:Young Adult