Relationship between pulmonary function test and sputum inflammatory cells in adult asthmatic patients

Afshan Mehboob Khan; Shazia Nazar; Shahneela Siraj; Sumera Mustafa; Durre Sameen; Anwar Ali

Afshan Mehboob Khan Departments of Physiology, Dow International Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Dr Ishratul Ebad Institute of Oral Health Sciences and University of Karachi,Pakistan

Shazia Nazar Departments of Physiology, Dow International Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Dr Ishratul Ebad Institute of Oral Health Sciences and University of Karachi,Pakistan

Shahneela Siraj Departments of Physiology, Dow International Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Dr Ishratul Ebad Institute of Oral Health Sciences and University of Karachi,Pakistan

Sumera Mustafa Departments of Physiology, Dow International Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Dr Ishratul Ebad Institute of Oral Health Sciences and University of Karachi,Pakistan

Durre Sameen Departments of Physiology, Dow International Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Dr Ishratul Ebad Institute of Oral Health Sciences and University of Karachi,Pakistan

Anwar Ali Departments of Physiology, Dow International Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Dr Ishratul Ebad Institute of Oral Health Sciences and University of Karachi,Pakistan

Objectives: To investigate sputum inflammatory cell indices and to correlate them with the pulmonary function test in asthmatic adults to assess the severity of asthma.Methodology: This cross sectional study was carried out from February 2017 to December 2018 in the Department of Physiology, University of Karachi with the collaboration of Department of Chest Medicine, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, Karachi. A total of 140 asthmatic patients of age between 20-60 years of either gender were selected. Patients were diagnosed to be asthmatics according to Global Initiative for Asthma Guideline (GINA). Patient's biophysical parameters were age, gender and body mass index. Vitalograph compact was used to perform spirometry. Sputum cell profile was performed by Leishman's stain. The study was analyzed statistically by SPSS version 21 and p<0.05 was used to assess the statistical significance Results: All 140 patients were divided into neutrophilic, eosinophilic and mix asthmatic groups according to the presence of dominant inflammatory cells in sputum. Out of 140, 104(74%) patients were mix asthmatics, 11(8%) were eosinophilic and 25(18%) were neutrophilic. Sputum eosinophils and neutrophils were significantly correlated with FEV1/FVC (for eosinophils r=-0.281, p=0.004, for neutrophils r=- 0.468, p=0.000).Conclusion: It is concluded that more inflammatory cells in sputum may increase the severity of asthma and impair the lung functions .