March 2013
Specialty Practitioner of the Year: Nominations Being Accepted Now
We’ll be recognizing one of our own at AARC Congress 2013 in Anaheim,
and now is the time for nominations. So take a moment
to consider a section member for this important
award. Our online NOMINATION
FORM makes it easy.
Blood Test Predicts Sputum Eosinophilia but Not Sputum Neutrophilia
Noting that phenotyping of asthma according to airway inflammation can identify patients who will respond to targeted therapy, but that the sputum induction necessary to assess for airway inflammation is technically demanding, researchers from Belgium decided to see if other less invasive means might be available. Their study was conducted in 508 asthma patients who had a successful sputum induction. Forty-six percent were diagnosed with eosinophilic airway inflammation and 18% had evidence of neutrophilic airway inflammation. High blood eosinophils, FENO and IgE level, and low FEV1/FVC were found to predict sputum eosinophia, leading the researchers to suggest blood eosinophils could provide a practical alternative to sputum induction in these patients. However, blood neutrophil count did not predict sputum neutrophil. Only advanced age and high FRC were associated with that finding. The study was published ahead of print by BMC Pulmonary Medicine on Feb. 26. READ ABSTRACT
FVC Linked to Prediabetes
Japanese investigators publishing in the Feb. 20 edition of BMJ Open link lower FVC to an increased risk for prediabetes. They arrived at that conclusion after measuring lung function and impaired glucose tolerance in 1058 men taking part in a cross sectional study and 560 men with normal glucose tolerance at baseline. One hundred and two participants developed prediabetes during the study, and those with lower FVC were more likely to have the condition. However, no link was seen between change in baseline FEV1/FVC and prediabetes. The authors write, “Although there is published evidence for an association between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and DM, prediabetes is not associated with the early stage of COPD.” READ ABSTRACT
Functional, Inflammatory Responses to Ozone Differ
A new study out of Italy suggests functional (as defined by the FEV1) and inflammatory responses to ozone exposure are not the same. Researchers subjected 120 patients with mild-to-moderate asthma to either air or ozone for two hours in a challenge chamber. Pulmonary function tests were performed before and immediately after exposure and symptoms were gathered at both points as well. Induced sputum was collected six hours after exposure. Results showed those with an FEV1 response to ozone had lower baseline FEV1 and were less likely to have been treated with inhaled corticosteroids. Those who showed a neutrophil response were younger, had lower baseline sputum inflammation, and had greater methacholine responsiveness. The study appeared in the Feb. issue of Inhalation Toxicology. READ ABSTRACT
Age, Lung Function, and A-T
Researchers from Johns Hopkins looked at the association between age and lung function in children and young adults with ataxia telangiectasia (A-T) in a study published ahead of print in Pediatric Pulmonology on Feb. 8. Among the results:
- Mean FVC% was 56.6 ± 20.0.
- Similar pulmonary function was seen in males and females between the ages of six and ten.
- Older females were found to have significantly lower FVC% than both older males and younger females.
- The use of supplemental gamma globulin was associated with significantly lower FVC%.
- A modest correlation was found between higher radiation-induced chromosomal breakage and lower FVC% in males.
- No significant change in FVC% was found in a subset of 25 subjects who underwent pulmonary function testing on two or more occasions over an average of two years.
Participants in the study ranged in age from 6-29. The authors conclude, “Recognition of groups who are at higher risk for lower pulmonary function may help direct care and improve clinical outcomes in people with A-T.” READ ABSTRACT
