Lymphocytes in the airways of patients with bronchial asthma. Is there any relationship to IgE-mediated allergic reaction.

Relationship of the proportion of lymphocytes in　bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fiutd to IgE-mediated reactions and to ventilatory function was studied in two age-matched asthma groups : group A of 11 subjects with BAL lymphocytes over 30% and group B of 11 subjects with BAL leyphocytes less than 10%. Of the eleven subjects in group A, 3 (27.3%) were atopic and 4 (36.4%) were non-atopic. The proportion of BAL lymphocytes in subjects with serum IgE level more than 300 IU/ml, who were all older than 50 years, was significantly higher than that in subjects with serum IgE less than 100 IU/ml in group A (p<0.05). While of the eleven subjects of group B, 5 (45.5%) were atopic and 4 (36.4%) were non-atopic. The value of % V(25) was significantly higher in the atopics compared with the non-atopics in group A (p<0.05), although no significant difference was found in the value of % V(25) between the two asthma types in group B. The results show that an increased number of lymphocytes in BAL fluid may be enhanced by IgE-mediated allergic reactions in the elderly, and that the decreased value of % V(25) may be associated withan increased number of lymphocytes in BAL fluid in non-atopics.

気管支喘息を対象に,気管支肺胞洗浄液(BALF)中のリンパ球の出現頻度と,IgE系反応および換気機能との関連について検討を加えた｡対象は,同年齢の2つのグループ,すなわち,BALF中リンパ球出現頻度30%以上の症例(グループA)と10%以下の症例(グループB)に分けて,それぞれ11例ずっで比較検討を行った｡グループAでは,11例中3例がアトピー型,4例が非アトピー型であった。血清IgEが300IU/ml以上の症例(いずれも50才以上)では,100IU/ml以下の症例に比べ,BALF中リンパ球の出現頻度は,有意に高い傾向を示した｡一方,グループBの11例では,アトピー型5例,非アトピー型4例であった｡% Ⅴ(25)値は,グループAではアトピー型で,非アトピー型に比べ有意に高い値を示した｡これらの結果は,50才以上の症例では,IgE系の反応がリンパ球の出現頻度を増強させること,そして,非アトピー型では,リンパ球の出現頻度と% Ⅴ(25)笛値との間にある程度の関連が見られることを示唆しているものと考えられた。