[The role of eosinophils in bronchial asthma]

A total of 65 patients with infection-dependent bronchial asthma (BA) in the phase of exacerbation were examined for eosinophil number in the peripheral blood, forced expiration volume within the first second (FEV1), systolic pressure in the pulmonary artery (SPPA), the content of endogenous hydrocortisone and IgE, and for the titre of circulating immune complexes (CIC). The group of patients with eosinophilia over 600/mm3 showed a more grave course of BA. As the number of eosinophils in the blood increased, the SPPA and the CIC titre significantly rose. A marked tendency was discovered towards enhancement of bronchial obstruction as well as towards the increase of the content of endogenous hydrocortisone. A good agreement was demonstrated between the number of eosinophils in the blood and hydrocortisone content in the serum as was a negative correlation of the mean strength between the eosinophilia level and FEV1. On the patients' distribution into groups in terms of the gravity of obstructive abnormalities a significant rise of eosinophilia was noticed in patients with marked respiratory disorders. It is concluded that eosinophilia in BA patients is an unfavourable symptom evidencing that the patients are prone to a graver disease course, whereas the level of initial eosinophilia may be regarded as one of objective criteria for glucocorticosteroid administration.