Acute non-atopic late-onset asthma induced by respiratory infection

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate features of respiratory infection inducing acute non-atopic late-onset asthma (NLA). Virologic and microbiologic examinations of brash biopsy samples of rhinopharyngeal and bronchial mucosa and bronchial lavage fluid were performed in 116 NLA patients admitted to a hospital in autumn and winter. The leading cause of acute NLA was found to be respiratory viral infections. We noted that different clinical NLA types had different sensibility to various viruses: adenoviruses mainly caused exacerbations of aspirin-induced asthma, respiratory syncytial and influenza A viruses were prevalently determined in non-atopic asthma. Patients with posttuberculotic lesions of the lungs mostly had viral and bacterial associations. Such mixed infection resulted in more severe and prolonged exacerbations of NLA.