Markers of eosinophilic airway inflammation in patients with severe and mild to moderate asthma

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to compare markers of eosinophilic airway inflammation in patients with severe and non-severe non-controlled asthma. Methods: We examined inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)-treated 76 outpatients with mild/moderate asthma and 68 severe (ERS/ATS definition, 2014) asthmatics. FeNO was measured by a chemiluminescence analyzer (LR4000; Logan Research, UK). Blood eosinophil (Eos) level was assessed by automatic hematology analyzer. Results: Markers of eosinophilic airway inflammation (FeNO≥25 ppb or Eos ≥150 cells/ml) were elevated in 80% patients with mild/moderate and in 74% with severe asthma (p>0.05). FeNO (29 vs 37ppb, p>0.05) and Eos (274 vs 320 cells/ml, p>0.05) did not differ in non-severe and severe asthma. Current or former smokers were 33% of patients with non-severe and 50% of patients with severe asthma (p Conclusion: Persistent eosinophilic airway inflammation is common both in mild/moderate and severe asthma despite of ICS treatment. Blood eosinophil count is associated with FeNO level in non-smoking mild/moderate and severe asthmatic patients.