Rhinitis Patients With Sputum Eosinophilia Show Decreased Lung Function in the Absence of Airway Hyperresponsiveness.
10.4168/aair.2013.5.4.232
- Author:
Min Suk YANG
1
;
Hyun Seung LEE
;
Min Hye KIM
;
Woo Jung SONG
;
Tae Wan KIM
;
Jae Woo KWON
;
Sae Hoon KIM
;
Heung Woo PARK
;
Yoon Seok CHANG
;
Sang Heon CHO
;
Kyung Up MIN
Author Information
1. Department of Internal medicine, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Sputum;
eosinophil;
rhinitis;
forced expiratory volume;
matrix metalloproteinase-9
- MeSH:
Allergens;
Bronchial Provocation Tests;
Eosinophilia;
Eosinophils;
Forced Expiratory Volume;
Humans;
Lung;
Matrix Metalloproteinase 9;
Methacholine Chloride;
Respiratory Function Tests;
Retrospective Studies;
Rhinitis;
Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial;
RNA, Messenger;
Skin Tests;
Sputum;
Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1;
Transforming Growth Factor beta;
Vital Capacity
- From:Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research
2013;5(4):232-238
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Sputum eosinophilia is observed frequently in patients with rhinitis. Sputum eosinophilia in patients with non-asthmatic allergic rhinitis has been suggested to be related to nonspecific airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). However, the clinical significance of sputum eosinophilia in patients with non-asthmatic rhinitis without AHR has not been determined. We conducted a retrospective study examining the influence of sputum eosinophilia in patients with non-asthmatic rhinitis without AHR on pulmonary function and expression of fibrosis-related mediators. METHODS: Eighty-nine patients with moderate-to-severe perennial rhinitis without AHR were included. All underwent lung function tests (forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1] and forced vital capacity [FVC]), skin tests to inhalant allergens, methacholine bronchial challenge tests, and hypertonic saline-induced sputum to determine eosinophil counts. Sputum mRNA levels for transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) were also examined. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of sputum eosinophilia (> or =3%, eosinophilia-positive [EP] and <3%, eosinophilia-negative [EN] groups). RESULTS: FEV1 was significantly lower (P=0.04) and FEV1/FVC tended to be lower (P=0.1) in the EP group than in the EN group. In sputum analyses, the MMP-9 mRNA level (P=0.005) and the ratio of MMP-9 to TIMP-1 expression (P=0.01) were significantly higher in the EP group than in the EN group. There was no significant difference in TGF-beta mRNA expression between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Sputum eosinophilia in patients with moderate-to-severe perennial rhinitis without AHR influenced FEV1 and the expression pattern of fibrosis-related mediators.
