OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of sputum neutrophilia in patients with severe persistent bronchial asthma. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of Medicine, Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, from November 2009 to November 2010. METHODOLOGY: Cases of severe persistent bronchial asthma, aged between 12 and 40 years, were included. Sputum samples were collected by induction with hypertonic saline (4.5%). All samples were centrifuged and differential neutrophil count was calculated. Data was analyzed using SPSS 11. RESULTS: Out of 195 patients, there were 129 (66.2%) males and 66 (33.8%) females. The mean age was 27.01 ± 6.92 years. Mean sputum neutrophilic count was 126.47 ± 16.52 x 106/ml and the mean neutrophilic percentage was 63.187 ± 8.3363. Sputum neutrophilia was present in 84 patients (43.1%), out of whom, 56 were males and 28 females. In patients with sputum neutrophilia, mean neutrophilic count was 142.40 ± 8.49 x 106/ml and the mean neutrophilic percentage was 71.2024 ± 4.2441%. CONCLUSION: Sputum neutrophilia is a frequent finding in cases with severe persistent bronchial asthma. Presence of sputum neutrophilia in such cases can lessen the inappropriate use of corticosteroids with their associated long-term side effects.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of sputum neutrophilia in patients with severe persistent bronchial asthma. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of Medicine, Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, from November 2009 to November 2010. METHODOLOGY: Cases of severe persistent bronchial asthma, aged between 12 and 40 years, were included. Sputum samples were collected by induction with hypertonic saline (4.5%). All samples were centrifuged and differential neutrophil count was calculated. Data was analyzed using SPSS 11. RESULTS: Out of 195 patients, there were 129 (66.2%) males and 66 (33.8%) females. The mean age was 27.01 ± 6.92 years. Mean sputum neutrophilic count was 126.47 ± 16.52 x 106/ml and the mean neutrophilic percentage was 63.187 ± 8.3363. Sputum neutrophilia was present in 84 patients (43.1%), out of whom, 56 were males and 28 females. In patients with sputum neutrophilia, mean neutrophilic count was 142.40 ± 8.49 x 106/ml and the mean neutrophilic percentage was 71.2024 ± 4.2441%. CONCLUSION:Sputum neutrophilia is a frequent finding in cases with severe persistent bronchial asthma. Presence of sputum neutrophilia in such cases can lessen the inappropriate use of corticosteroids with their associated long-term side effects.