Asthma Control and Sputum Eosinophils: A Longitudinal Study in Daily Practice

Abstract

At the individual level, asthma control was associated with fluctuations in sputum eosinophil count over time.

Priorities for future research into asthma diagnostic tools: A PAN‐EU consensus exercise from the European asthma research innovation partnership (EARIP)

“…A retrospective study on a large asthma cohort has shown that patients combining sputum eosinophil >3% and blood eosinophil counts >400/lL have poor asthma control and are prone to exacerbate. 58 Sputum induction can be effectively performed in adults, but there might be difficulty in collecting sufficient sputum in children under 8 years. 57 Furthermore, in a large retrospective cohort of asthmatics, it has been shown that both fluctuation in FEV1 and fluctuation in sputum in sputum eosinophils independently correlated with change n ACQ6.…”

“…57 Furthermore, in a large retrospective cohort of asthmatics, it has been shown that both fluctuation in FEV1 and fluctuation in sputum in sputum eosinophils independently correlated with change n ACQ6. 58 Sputum induction can be effectively performed in adults, but there might be difficulty in collecting sufficient sputum in children under 8 years. 51,56 Furthermore, one study in children using sputum eosinophils for monitoring asthma was negative.…”

The burden of adult asthma in Finland: impact of disease severity and eosinophil count on health care resource utilization

“…There is substantial heterogeneity in the presentation of severe asthma and several distinct severe asthma phenotypes have been identified (1,2). One of these is severe eosinophilic asthma, characterized by poor asthma control, eosinophilic inflammation, frequent exacerbations and reduced lung function (1,2,(6)(7)(8).…”

Step‐down of inhaled corticosteroids in non‐eosinophilic asthma: A prospective trial in real life

“…It is therefore worth noting that one‐third of uncontrolled asthmatics despite treatment with high‐dose ICS at baseline were successfully weaned off ICS without any clinical degradation. Besides, monitoring sputum eosinophils during the step‐down process is of importance because some patients may tolerate an increase in sputum eosinophils without any degradation in asthma control, as previously reported . In those patients, the ICS dose should be raised to reduce the risk of exacerbations associated with eosinophilic inflammation …”

“…Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) was measured at a flow rate of 50 mL/s (NIOX; Aerocrine, Solna, Sweden). Sputum induction and processing with the whole‐sample technique was performed as previously described . The technician who performed the sputum cell count was blind to the clinical status of patients.…”