Induced sputum in the management of COPD: clinical implications
Sputum induction can be used as a non-invasive technique to investigate airway inflammation in asthma and COPD. We reported the case of a 68 year old man with COPD, stage III GOLD, that underwent sputum induction during two exacerbation episodes. The first cell count showed a typical sputum neutroph...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
PAGEPress Publications
2015-12-01
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| Series: | Monaldi Archives for Chest Disease |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.monaldi-archives.org/index.php/macd/article/view/163 |
| Summary: | Sputum induction can be used as a non-invasive technique to investigate airway inflammation in asthma and COPD. We reported the case of a 68 year old man with COPD, stage III GOLD, that underwent sputum induction during two exacerbation episodes. The first cell count showed a typical sputum neutrophilia, whereas the second showed sputum eosinophilia. On the basis of sputum cellularity, we decided to treat the first episode with a course of antibiotics and the second exacerbation with a course of antibiotics and oral steroids. The patient showed improvement in both cases, obtaining clinical stabilisation. The induced sputum cell count could be a useful technique in a clinical setting to evaluate the cellular characteristics of airway inflammation during COPD exacerbation and modulate the antinflammatory therapy. |
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| ISSN: | 1122-0643 2532-5264 |