Bjerregaard et al evaluated the impact of eosinophilia in induced sputum on the severity of an exacerbation of asthma. The authors are from Bispebjerg University Hospital (Copenhagen), Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia adn Pathwest Laboratory Medicine Western Australia.
Patient selection: acute exacerbation of asthma
Specimen: induced sputum
An eosinophilic exacerbation was defined as an induced sputum with a differential count >= 3%.
Patients with an eosinophilic exacerbation tend to have:
(1) a lower FEV1 as percent of predicted during the first 24 hours after admission
(2) a greater need for supplemental oxygen
(3) higher fractional expiratory nitric oxide (FeNO), with range 40-90 ppb. An FENO > 25 ppb was associated with a reduced FEV1 as percent of predicted
(4) a higher absolute eosinophil count in the peripheral blood
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