Lower Airway Inflammation (lower + airway_inflammation)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Noninvasive methods for assessment of airway inflammation in occupational settings

ALLERGY, Issue 4 2010
S. Quirce
To cite this article: Quirce S, Lemière C, de Blay F, del Pozo V, Gerth Van Wijk R, Maestrelli P, Pauli G, Pignatti P, Raulf-Heimsoth M, Sastre J, Storaas T, Moscato G. Noninvasive methods for assessment of airway inflammation in occupational settings. Allergy 2010; 65: 445,458. Abstract The present document is a consensus statement reached by a panel of experts on noninvasive methods for assessment of airway inflammation in the investigation of occupational respiratory diseases, such as occupational rhinitis, occupational asthma, and nonasthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis. Both the upper and the lower airway inflammation have been reviewed and appraised reinforcing the concept of ,united airway disease' in the occupational settings. The most widely used noninvasive methods to assess bronchial inflammation are covered: induced sputum, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) concentration, and exhaled breath condensate. Nasal inflammation may be assessed by noninvasive approaches such as nasal cytology and nasal lavage, which provide information on different aspects of inflammatory processes (cellular vs mediators). Key messages and suggestions on the use of noninvasive methods for assessment of airway inflammation in the investigation and diagnosis of occupational airway diseases are issued. [source]


Functional endoscopic sinus surgery improved asthma symptoms as well as PEFR and olfaction in patients with nasal polyposis

ALLERGY, Issue 5 2009
A. Ehnhage
Background:, Nasal polyposis is a disease known to be associated with asthma. The management is anti-inflammatory, with topical and oral corticosteroids as the first-line treatment. The effect of surgical treatment on lower airway inflammation has not been sufficiently studied. Aim:, The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) as well as fluticasone proprionate nasal drops (FPND) 400 ,g b.i.d. on nasal and lower airway parameters in asthmatics with nasal polyposis. Methods:, This was a prospective 21-week study of 68 patients with asthma and nasal polyposis, on the benefits of FESS on nasal ,(butanol test, subjective olfaction, peak nasal inspiratory flow, congestion, rhinorrhoea, and polyp score)', and on the lower airway parameters (dyspnea, cough, mean daily peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), and lung function tests). It also included a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 14 weeks phase on FPND. Results:, Functional endoscopic sinus surgery significantly improved mean asthma symptom scores and daily PEFR and all nasal parameters including subjective and objective olfaction tests. This is the first study that shows the benefits of FESS on butanol tests in patients with nasal polyposis. We found no significant difference between topical treatment with FPND or placebo in the nasal or lower airway variables. Conclusion:, Functional endoscopic sinus surgery improved nasal and asthma symptoms in patients with nasal polyposis. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery could be considered early in the natural course of nasal polyposis with concomitant asthma, as well as a second-line treatment in nasal polyposis patients with a reduced sense of smell. The potential benefits of FPND 400 ,g b.i.d. were probably overshadowed by FESS. [source]


Indices of lower airway inflammation in children monosensitized to house dust mite after nasal allergen challenge

ALLERGY, Issue 10 2008
A. Inal
Background:, There are few available data assessing the united airway disease and its systemic aspects in children. With this study, we aimed to investigate the inflammation markers of upper and lower airways before and after nasal allergen challenge in mite sensitive children with different clinical expression of the allergic disease. Methods:, Four study groups were formed: rhinitis only, without bronchial hyper-responsiveness (R, n = 10), rhinitis with asthma (R + A, n = 22), atopic asymptomatics (AA, n = 8) and nonallergic healthy controls (C, n = 10). Blood eosinophils, nasal and sputum eosinophils, sputum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and cys-LTs, and serum ECP levels were measured before and 24 h after nasal allergen challenge. Results:, The groups were comparable in terms of age and gender. Cumulative symptom scores recorded during and 1 h after nasal challenge were not significantly different between patients with R, R + A and AA groups. At T24, the children belonging to R, R + A and AA showed significant increases in nasal eosinophils (P < 0.01, P < 0.001, and P = 0.01, respectively), sputum eosinophils (P = 0.01, P < 0.001, and P < 0.05, respectively) and blood eosinophils (P < 0.01, P < 0.001, and P < 0.05, respectively). Similarly, increases in sputum ECP (P < 0.01, P < 0.001, and P = 0.07, respectively) and sputum cys-LT levels (P = 0.07, P < 0.001, and P < 0.05, respectively) were detected in children belonging to these three groups at T24. Sputum eosinophils significantly correlated with blood eosinophils (r = 0.54, P < 0.001) and sputum ECP (r = 0.58, P < 0.001) at T24. Conclusions:, This study showed that nasal allergen challenge increased markers of eosinophilic inflammation in both upper and lower airways of children monosensitized to mites, even before the onset of clinical symptoms. [source]


Association of lower airway inflammation with physiologic findings in young children with cystic fibrosis,

PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY, Issue 5 2009
Stacey L. Peterson-Carmichael MD
Abstract Background The relationship between lower airway markers of inflammation and infection with physiologic findings is poorly understood in young children with cystic fibrosis (CF). The goal of this study was to evaluate the association of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) markers of infection and inflammation, including mediators linked to airway remodeling, to infant lung function values in young children with CF undergoing clinically indicated bronchoscopy. Methods Plethysmography and the raised volume rapid thoracoabdominal compression (RVRTC) technique were performed in 16 sedated infants and young children with CF prior to bronchoscopy. BALF was collected and analyzed for pathogen density, cell count, % neutrophils, transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-,1), matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), and interleukin-8 (IL-8). Results There was a significant direct correlation between functional residual capacity (FRC), the ratio of residual volume to total lung capacity (RV/TLC) and FRC/TLC with % neutrophils (P,<,0.05). Forced expiratory flows were inversely correlated to % neutrophils (P,<,0.01). Lung function parameters did not differentiate those with and without lower airway infection; however, pathogen density directly correlated with FRC and inversely correlated with flows (P,<,0.05). In a subset of the population, MMP-2 directly correlated with RV/TLC and inversely correlated with flows (P,<,0.05) and TGF-,1 directly correlated with FRC (P,<,0.05). Conclusions Results from this study suggest that lower airway inflammation as well as mediators linked to airway remodeling play an active role in pulmonary deterioration in CF infants and young children undergoing clinically indicated bronchoscopy. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2009; 44:503,511. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Early pulmonary infection, inflammation, and clinical outcomes in infants with cystic fibrosis,

PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY, Issue 5 2001
Margaret Rosenfeld MD
Abstract A thorough understanding of the early natural history of cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease is critical for the development of effective interventions in the youngest patients. We assessed the evolution of pulmonary infection, inflammation, and clinical course among 40 infants over a 2-year period through annual bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) for culture and measurements of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, semiannual infant pulmonary function testing, and quarterly clinical evaluations. Both the prevalence of CF pathogens and their density in BAL fluid increased with age. Infants had neutrophilic lower airway inflammation and elevated IL-8 concentrations independent of whether CF pathogens were recovered. Total leukocyte and neutrophil densities and IL-8 concentrations increased with density of CF pathogens in BAL fluid, whether the isolated organism was P. aeruginosa or another pathogen. IL-10 concentrations were similar in CF subjects and non-CF historical controls. Infants generally had suboptimal growth (low weight and height percentiles) and obstructive lung disease (decreased expiratory flows and air trapping). Subjects from whom CF pathogens were isolated at >,105 cfu/mL had the worst air trapping and lowest Brasfield chest X-ray scores. Our findings provide a foundation for future studies of early intervention in CF lung disease, including antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory therapy. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2001; 32:356,366. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Exhaled nitric oxide in seasonal allergic rhinitis: influence of pollen season and therapy

CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 3 2001
C. Gratziou
Exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) has been proposed as a potential indirect marker of lower airway inflammation in asthma. To investigate the existence of lower airways inflammation in allergic rhinitis eNO measurements were performed in 32 patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic seasonal allergic rhinitis early in and out of pollen seasons and in 80 healthy volunteers. To further define how exhaled NO is modified by therapy, NO levels were detected following 1-month treatment with either inhaled steroids or non-steroids therapy with nedocromil. Exhaled NO (mean ±,SE) was significantly elevated in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis with and without symptoms (24.2 + 2.5 and 13.9 + 2.9 ppb, respectively) as compared to healthy volunteers (4.5 + 0.3 ppb) both in and out of pollen season (21.2 + 2.1 and 9.0 + 1.4 p.p.b., respectively) with a higher increase during the allergen exposure in season. Higher levels of exhaled NO were detected in patients with symptoms, either from the upper or lower airways, and with bronchial hyperreactivity. The increased exhaled NO in symptomatic patients was reduced only by inhaled steroids and not by nedocromil. These findings possibly suggest the existence of lower airway inflammation in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis in and out of pollen season. Thus, exhaled NO may be used as a non-invasive index for early detection of lower airway inflammation and for monitoring the optional treatment in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. [source]