Advanced diagnostic studies: exhaled breath and sputum analyses

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology
• Occupational Medicine
• Allergy Immunology

Background:

• Occupational asthma (OA) is a significant work-related respiratory condition.
• Accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective management and prevention.
• Non-invasive biomarkers are increasingly important in clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the utility of sputum cell counts and exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) in diagnosing occupational asthma.
• To compare the diagnostic performance of these non-invasive markers.

Main Methods:

• Review of a session from the American College of Chest Physicians course on non-invasive measures in OA.
• Analysis of findings related to sputum eosinophils and FeNO levels.

Main Results:

• Occupational asthma is linked to elevated sputum eosinophil percentages, especially during work exposure or after specific challenges.
• Sputum eosinophil counts demonstrate higher sensitivity for predicting OA compared to changes in FeNO levels.

Conclusions:

• Sputum eosinophil counts can be a valuable complementary tool for investigating occupational asthma in accessible settings.
• The clinical interpretation of FeNO in OA diagnosis requires further research and definition of patient phenotypes.
• Further studies are needed to clarify the role of FeNO in specific patient groups.