Development of irreversible airflow obstruction in a patient with eosinophilic bronchitis without asthma

Eosinophilic bronchitis is a recently described condition presenting with chronic cough and sputum eosinophilia without the abnormalities of airway function seen in asthma. The patient, a 48-yr-old male who had never smoked, presented with an isolated chronic cough. He had normal spirometric values,...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inThe European respiratory journal Vol. 14; no. 5; pp. 1228 - 1230
Main Authors Brightling, CE, Woltmann, G, Wardlaw, AJ, Pavord, ID
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Leeds Eur Respiratory Soc 01.11.1999
Maney
Subjects
Asthma
Biological and medical sciences
Bronchitis - complications
Bronchitis - diagnosis
Bronchitis - physiopathology
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma
Eosinophilia - complications
Eosinophilia - diagnosis
Eosinophilia - physiopathology
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Pneumology
Respiratory Function Tests
Sputum - cytology
Human
Pathophysiology
Respiratory disease
Exploration
Obstruction
Differential diagnostic
Eosinophil
Asthma
Case study
Respiratory tract
Treatment
Bronchus disease
Complication
Bronchitis
Obstructive pulmonary disease
Diagnosis
Irreversible
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:Eosinophilic bronchitis is a recently described condition presenting with chronic cough and sputum eosinophilia without the abnormalities of airway function seen in asthma. The patient, a 48-yr-old male who had never smoked, presented with an isolated chronic cough. He had normal spirometric values, peak flow variability and airway responsiveness, but an induced sputum eosinophil count of 33% (normal <1%). Although his cough improved with inhaled corticosteroids the sputum eosinophilia persisted. Over 2 yrs he developed airflow obstruction, which did not improve following nebulized bronchodilators and a 2-week course of prednisolone 30 mg once daily sufficient to return the sputum eosinophilia to normal (0.5%). It is suggested that the progressive irreversible airflow obstruction was due to persistent structural change to the airway secondary to eosinophilic airway inflammation, and it is further speculated that eosinophilic bronchitis may be a prelude to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in some patients.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Case Study-2
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-4
content type line 23
ObjectType-Report-1
ObjectType-Article-3
ISSN:0903-1936
1399-3003
DOI:10.1183/09031936.99.14512289