Invasive monitoring of airway inflammation.

Abstract

What we know: Ethical concerns have limited research involving invasive bronchoscopy techniques in young children. No longitudinal studies have been conducted to compare the findings of bronchial biopsy or bronchoalveolar lavage in young children with transient episodic wheeze versus asthma. Children with atopic asthma have more airway eosinophils and mast cells than children with viral-associated wheeze. Both neutrophilic and eosinophilic patterns of inflammation are present in asthma. What we need to know: Can we establish robust normal values for tissue and fluid samples obtained at bronchoscopy or bronchoalveolar lavage? Do biopsy specimens taken at the carina tell us about the pathological processes occurring in asthma? Can we use invasive procedures to predict which children with wheeze will continue to wheeze and develop a classical asthma phenotype? Can we use invasive procedures to guide asthma therapy? Can we expect airway inflammation to resolve with anti-inflammatory medication? Can we correlate invasive with non-invasive measures of inflammation? Can we use our understanding of pro- and anti-inflammatory pathways to develop new therapeutic interventions? Is there a presymptomatic phase of inflammation?