CHRONIC GLANDULAR BRONCHITIS IN YOUNG INDIVIDUALS RESIDING IN A METROPOLITAN-AREA

A study of 161 Los Angeles County residents aged 12-28 years old who h ad died sudden violent deaths showed frequent and severe chronic gland ular bronchitis (CGB), that is to say grade greater than or equal to 5 (0-10) chronic inflammation involving at least one, half or more, and all submucosal glands in 53.4%, 21%, and 4.4% of the main stem bronch i, respectively. The mean plasma cell/gland/bronchus was high (greater than or equal to 5) for 22 subjects (13.7%), while only 2 bronchi (1. 2%) had a correspondingly high lymphocyte mean (P<0.001). Of the bronc hi, 75.2% were affected by glandular atrophy (greater than or equal to 5 in 8.1%), 10.6% had neutrophil infiltration of glands, and 3.1% had acute sialadenitis. Of the total of 1040 glands, CGB was found in 83. 8% (25 in 26.5%). Of 25 non-smokers identified, 14 (56%) had some degr ee of CGB in greater than or equal to 50% of the glands, severe in 7 ( 26%). Severe CGB in many young individuals raises concern that a subpo pulation of living cohorts may have an increased susceptibility to dis ease and a rising incidence of chronic lung disease. Demographic analy sis is pending, but respiratory infection, smoking, adverse socioecono mic factors, and air pollution are all potential causative factors. Si nce pollution in Los Angeles frequently exceeds air quality standards, an ongoing multicity study is attempting to distinguish between the s uspected effects of air pollution and confounding variables.