MARKERS OF INFLAMMATION IN INDUCED SPUTUM IN ACUTE BRONCHITIS CAUSED BY CHLAMYDIA-PNEUMONIAE

Little is known of the inflammatory characteristics of acute infection s of the respiratory tract caused by virus and unusual bacteria such a s Chlamydia pneumoniae. A case is reported in whom inflammatory indice s in sputum were used to investigate, for the first time, the airway i nflammation during an episode of acute bronchitis caused by C pneumoni ae. The patient presented with a dry cough of five days duration. C pn eumoniae was identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in a nasoph aryngeal swab collected on day 5. Virological studies were negative. C linical and inflammatory indices in induced sputum were measured on da ys 6, 8, and 11. The cough cleared spontaneously by day 11. Forced exp iratory volume in one second was normal throughout. Sputum findings id entified intense airway inflammation characterised by increased total cell and lymphocyte counts followed by an increase in neutrophils and a decrease in the CD4/CD8 ratio, activation of CD8 lymphocytes, and ex udation as indicated by an increase in fluid phase fibrinogen. These o bservations suggest that sputum might be useful to monitor an inflamma tory/immune response of the airway in acute infections.