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Leucocyte populations in respiratory syncytial virus-induced bronchiolitis
P K Smith1, S Z Wang, K D Dowling
1Department of Paediatrics, Flinders Medical Center, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Objectives:
To enumerate the cellular composition of the airways in infants with acute bronchiolitis.
Methodology:
Cells were obtained by airway lavage from the upper and lower airway and the peripheral blood of infants with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)+ bronchiolitis, RSV- bronchiolitis and age-matched controls.
Results:
Neutrophils are the predominant cells present in the upper and lower airway. Neutrophils are present at a higher number/unit volume in the airway than in the peripheral blood.
Conclusions:
Neutrophils, being the dominant cellular infiltrate into the airway, are likely to contribute to the pathophysiology of bronchiolitis. Therapies targeted at limiting neutrophil influx or neutrophil-mediated damage in the airway may have a therapeutic role.