title: Pattern of airway inflammation and remodelling in mild persistent atopic asthma and in mild persistent asthma related to gastroesophageal reflux.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The increase of basement membrane thickness (BMAT) represents a structural feature described as commonly characterizing airway remodelling in asthma, even if the non-atopic condition had been investigated only episodically from this point of view. Gastrooesophageal-reflux is a pathological condition which can frequently cause and/or sustain asthma in non-atopic individuals.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to measure BMT; some inflammatory mediators in BAL; cys-leucotrienes (LTE4) in urine; e-NO, and BHR to Methacholine (MCh) in mild atopic and in mild non-atopic, GER-related asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  After their informed consent, 25 mild atopic (40.9 years +/- 13.1 sd, FEV1 = 95.9% pred. +/- 12.9 sd) and 39 non-atopic, GER-related asthmatics (57.3 years +/- 14.2 ds, FEVY1 = 101.3% pred. +/- 12.2 sd), nonsmoker and of a comparable asthma duration, underwent measurements of basal lung function and bronchial response to MCh (PD20 FEV1); endobronchial biopsies and BAL (in the right middle lobe), and a 24-h gastroesophageal pHmetry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Atopic GER-related asthma showed two distinct patterns of airway inflammation. The eosinophilic contribution to airway inflammation was systematically prevailing in the former group, such as: EOS = 10.7% +/- 13.4 sd vs 2.0% +/- 2.8 sd, p = 0.001; ECP = 344.9 mcg/l +/- 635.9 sd vs 59.2 mcg/l +/- 75.1 sd, p = 0.001.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data from the present study are suggesting that persistent mild atopic and mild GER-related asthma seem to represent two distinct phenotypes of asthma in terms of airway remodelling, and in particular of BMT involvement.
authors: Respiratory Unit, Bussolengo Gen. Hospital, Bussolengo-Verona, Italy.
authors: R W
authors: RW
authors: Dal Negro
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Guerriero
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Micheletto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D056151:Airway Remodeling; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000473:pathology*; D001706:Biopsy; D001944:Breath Tests; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D050782:Esophageal pH Monitoring; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D010641:Phenotype; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D018836:Inflammation Mediators