Thorax 1999;54:37-39 ( January )

Effect of methacholine challenge on cellular composition of sputum induction

A Spanevello,^a A M Vignola,^b A Bonanno,^b M Confalonieri,^c E Crimi,^d V Brusasco^d

^a Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri, Clinica del Lavoro e della Riabilitazione, Tradate, Italy, ^b Istituto di Fisiopatologia Respiratoria, CNR, Palermo, Italy, ^c Divisione di Pneumologia, Ospedale di Piacenza, Italy, ^d Cattedra di Fisiopatologia Respiratoria, Dipartimento di Scienze Motorie e Riabilitazione, Università di Genova, Italy

Correspondence to: Dr A Spanevello, Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri, Via Roncaccio 16, 21049 Tradate (VA), Italy.

Received 5 June 1998; Returned to authors 29 July 1998; Revised version received 26 August 1998; Accepted for publication 8 September 1998

BACKGROUNDInduced sputum and methacholine inhalation challenge are routinely used for the assessment of airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness, respectively. This study investigates whether a methacholine challenge performed one hour before sputum induction alters the cellular and biochemical constituents of sputum.
METHODSSixteen stable asthmatic patients with lung function within the normal range underwent two sputum inductions within one week. One hour before one of the sputum inductions a methacholine challenge was performed.
RESULTSThere were no significant differences in total cell count, macrophages, neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, epithelial cells, ECP, and albumin between the two challenges. The repeatability of cell counts was good for all cells, ECP and albumin, but poor for total cells.
CONCLUSIONSIn patients with stable asthma a methacholine challenge carried out one hour before sputum induction does not significantly alter the cellular and biochemical constituents of sputum.

Keywords: asthma; methacholine challenge; induced sputum

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© 1999 by Thorax
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