Induced sputum in occupational lung diseases

Abstract

Summary Induced sputum is a particularly promising procedure, since it provides specific information on both the cellular and molecular constituents in inflammation. In the period 1950–1970, sputum cells were examined on stained smears in both research and clinical settings. After their recovery by spontaneous coughing, the cells were used to study lung cancer and respiratory infections, and, later on, to diagnose Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in patients infected with HIV. The method was widely improved upon by the induction of sputum with aerosol of hypertonic saline, and then extended to become part of the assessment of airway inflammation in bronchial asthma and COPD. However, less attention was given to the use of induced sputum in occupational exposures. This review analyses the value of induced sputum and presents its applications in pulmonary occupational and environmental medicine.