[Differential cell count of sputum in patients with asthma challenged with allergen provocation]

Inhalation of hypertonic saline aerosol is a noninvasive method of obtaining sputum for examination of inflammatory processes in the airways. The aim of our investigation was to evaluate the effect of the bronchial provocation test with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus on both total and differential cell counts in the sputum of allergic asthma patients. The studies were carried out on 20 mild or moderate allergic asthmatics. In each case the studies were performed on three consecutive days. Sputum was induced on the first day of the study, the next day the bronchial provocation test with the allergen was performed and on the last day the sputum induction was repeated again. Twenty-four hours after the allergen challenge an increase in the total cell count and in eosinophils and a decrease in the percentage of macrophages were found in the induced sputum. The above changes were more marked in the patients demonstrating the dual asthmatic reaction after allergen challenge.