title: Functional phenotype and its correlation with therapeutic response and inflammatory type of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in feline lower airway disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Currently, functional assessment to monitor therapeutic response in feline lower airway disease (FLAD) has limited application.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate if expiratory indices derived from pseudo-tidal breathing flow-volume loop (pTBFVL) representing lower airway obstruction would decrease after clinical improvement and to investigate the correlation between functional phenotype and inflammatory cell type in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen client-owned cats with FLAD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective observational study. Functional assessment with pTBFVL indices (eg, peak to mid-expiratory flow; PEF/EF50) and conventional barometric whole body plethysmography (BWBP) parameters (eg, enhanced pause) was carried out before receiving treatment. BAL was performed to analyze inflammatory cell types. Signs were assessed by scoring. The cats were treated with glucocorticoids daily and functional testing was repeated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Loop indices PEF/EF50 and PEF/EF25 were significantly decreased after treatment (P < .001). Conventional BWBP parameters were not significantly different before and after treatment. Cats with PEF/EF50 > 1.51 before treatment had a significantly higher granulocyte (eosinophil plus neutrophil) percentage in BAL fluid (P = .014). Granulocyte percentage in BAL fluid was strongly correlated with PEF/EF25 (P = .001, rs = 0.74) and moderately correlated with PEF/EF50 (P = .022, rs = 0.57), whereas eosinophil or neutrophil percentage alone had no significant correlation with functional parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Functional parameters including PEF/EF50 and PEF/EF25 can be used for monitoring therapeutic response. The presence of airflow limitation during mid- to late expiration is affected by the overall extent of granulocyte infiltration.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Section of Small Animal Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Veterinary Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: C-H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: H-D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: J-J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: C-H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000730:Androstadienes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D002415:Cats; D000068298:Fluticasone; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012138:Respiratory Therapy
chemical_list: D000730:Androstadienes; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D011239:Prednisolone; D000068298:Fluticasone
keywords: Asthma; Barometric whole body plethysmography; Chronic bronchitis; Pulmonary function test