INTRODUCTION: "Eosinophilic asthma" refers to an asthma phenotype characterized by predominance of eosinophils in the bronchial airways and corticosteroid responsiveness. Recent clinical trials of eosinophil-blocking agents have utilized a blood eosinophil count of 300 or 400 eosinophils/mm(3) or higher to identify subjects with moderate to severe asthma. We observed multiple instances of counts which varied widely in the same patient within the same day. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether there is significant variability in blood eosinophil counts taken throughout the day in the same patients with moderate asthma. METHODS: Twelve subjects had serial blood eosinophil counts obtained within a 24-hour period. RESULTS: Twelve subjects were enrolled: seven subjects had moderate asthma, three subjects had mild asthma, and two control subjects had no asthma. The variability of blood eosinophil counts ranged from 17% to 396%. No specific diurnal pattern was found among the subjects. The highest variability were seen in three moderate asthmatics (396%, 170%, and 154%) and one mild asthmatic (164%) while the other subjects had variability of 84% or less. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed significant variability in blood eosinophil counts within a 24-hour period in the same subjects. The highest variability was seen in moderate asthmatics. These findings would appear to place the utility of a single eosinophil count in question.
INTRODUCTION: "Eosinophilic asthma" refers to an asthma phenotype characterized by predominance of eosinophils in the bronchial airways and corticosteroid responsiveness. Recent clinical trials of eosinophil-blocking agents have utilized a blood eosinophil count of 300 or 400 eosinophils/mm(3) or higher to identify subjects with moderate to severe asthma. We observed multiple instances of counts which varied widely in the same patient within the same day. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether there is significant variability in blood eosinophil counts taken throughout the day in the same patients with moderate asthma. METHODS: Twelve subjects had serial blood eosinophil counts obtained within a 24-hour period. RESULTS: Twelve subjects were enrolled: seven subjects had moderate asthma, three subjects had mild asthma, and two control subjects had no asthma. The variability of blood eosinophil counts ranged from 17% to 396%. No specific diurnal pattern was found among the subjects. The highest variability were seen in three moderate asthmatics (396%, 170%, and 154%) and one mild asthmatic (164%) while the other subjects had variability of 84% or less. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed significant variability in blood eosinophil counts within a 24-hour period in the same subjects. The highest variability was seen in moderate asthmatics. These findings would appear to place the utility of a single eosinophil count in question.
Authors: Jose T Melo; Tanushree Tunstall; Marcia M M Pizzichini; Rosemeri Maurici; Cristiane C Rocha; Felipe Dal-Pizzol; Jessica Gonçalves; Trevor T Hansel; Ryan S Thwaites; Emilio Pizzichini Journal: Am J Respir Crit Care Med Date: 2019-01-15 Impact factor: 21.405
Authors: Sameer K Mathur; Paul S Fichtinger; Michael D Evans; Elizabeth A Schwantes; Nizar N Jarjour Journal: Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol Date: 2016-08-31 Impact factor: 6.347
Authors: P E Silkoff; M Laviolette; D Singh; J M FitzGerald; S Kelsen; V Backer; C Porsbjerg; P O Girodet; P Berger; J N Kline; S Khatri; P Chanez; V S Susulic; E S Barnathan; F Baribaud; M J Loza Journal: Respir Res Date: 2016-04-23
Authors: Samantha S Possa; Edna A Leick; Carla M Prado; Mílton A Martins; Iolanda F L C Tibério Journal: Front Pharmacol Date: 2013-04-17 Impact factor: 5.810