title: Can Sputum Eosinophilia Be a Constant Feature in Severe Refractory Asthmatics? A 3-Year Longitudinal Study.
abstract: In difficult-to-treat asthmatics, uncontrolled despite a high level of therapy and followed for 3 years with a mean number of sputum samples/patient = 10, sputum eosinophilia (≥3%) was observed in 87% of all sputum samples. Persistent sputum eosinophilia is a characteristic of severe uncontrolled asthma.
authors.affiliation: Cardio-Thoracic and Vascular Department, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Federico L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Dente
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Latorre
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Novelli
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cianchetti
authors.forename: Maria Laura
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bartoli
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bacci
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Franco
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vagaggini
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Celi
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paggiaro
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology*; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013183:Sputum / Q000276:immunology*