EOSINOPHILIC INFLAMMATION IN COUGH VARIANT ASTHMA

Eosinophils are considered to play a central pathogenetic role in asth ma, We previously reported that sputum eosinophilia was observed in pa tients with cough variant asthma (CVA), as well as in ''classic'' asth ma with wheezing. This study was undertaken to further investigate the involvement of eosinophils in CVA, The serum eosinophil cationic prot ein (ECP) level, the percentage of eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lava ge (BAL) fluid, and the number of eosinophils in bronchial biopsy spec imen were examined in 14 patients with CVA, 21 with classic asthma, an d in seven healthy controls. For the two asthmatic groups, the clinica l severity was classified with scores of 1-3. Pulmonary function and b ronchial responsiveness were not significantly different between the p atients with classic asthma and those with CVA, BAL, tissue eosinophil and serum FCP were all significantly increased in both classic asthma and CVA when compared with the controls but mere not different betwee n classic asthma and CVA, In both groups of asthmatics, the clinical s everity significantly correlated with serum ECP and tissue eosinophils , In conclusion, eosinophilic inflammation is involved in cough varian t asthma as well as in classic asthma, Anti-inflammatory treatment may be essential in patients with CVA, as in those with classic asthma.