Ventilatory function and inflammatory cells in airways were compared between patients with type Ⅱ (bronchiolar obstruction) asthma and those with obstructive bronchiolitis. 1. Age and age at onset were higher in patients with type Ⅱ asthma than in those with obstructive bronchiolitis. IgE-mediated allergic reaction was observed in patients with type Ⅱ asthma, but not in those with obstructive bronchiolitis. 2. In ventilatory function tests, all ventilatory parameters examined were lower in patients with type Ⅱ asthma compared to those with obstructive bronchiolitis, and the differences were significant in FEV1.0% (p<0.001), % MMF (p<0.02), and V50 (p<0.01). 3. The proportion of BAL neutrophils was very high in type Ⅱ asthma (55.7%) and obstructive bronchiolitis (74.4%), however, this was not significant. 4. Absolute numbers/BAL fluid of total cells, BAL macrophages and BAL neutrophils were significantly higher in patients with obstructive bronchiolitis than in those with type Ⅱ asthma. 5. The results on absolute number/mℓ of BAL cells demonstrated that number of BAL neutrophils markedly larger in patients with obstructive bronchiolitis compared to those with type Ⅱ asthma. These results show that high proportion of BAL neutrophils was observed in the two respiratory diseases, however, the degree of inflammation in airways was markedly greater in obstructive bronchiolitis.
Ⅱ型喘息 (Type Ⅱasthma)
閉塞性細気管支炎 (Obstructive bronchiolitis)
換気機能 (Ventilatory function)
BAL好中球 (BAL neutrophiIs)
IgE系反応 (IgE-mediated allergy)