Bronchial hyperresponsiveness in type Ia (simple bronchoconstriction) asthma Relationship to patient age and the proportions of bronchoalveolar cells

Bronchial hyperresponsiveness was examined in relation to age, ventilatory function, and the proportion of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells in 39 patients with type Ia asthma (simple bronchoconstriction) (25 with type Ia-1 and 14 with type Ia-2), classified by clinical symptoms. 1. The proportion of BAL eosinophils was significantly higher in type Ia-2 than that in type Ia-1 asthma patients. 2. Bronchial reactivity to methacholine was not different between type Ia-1 and type Ia-2 asthma patients. 3. Bronchial hyperreactivity tended to decrease as patient age was higher in both types of asthma. Neither ventilatory function (FEV1.0%) nor the proportions of BAL lymphocytes and neutrophils was not correlated with bronchial hyperresponsiveness in both types of asthma. 4. Bronchial reactivity to methacholine more dereased with the increase in the proportion of BAL eosinophils in both type Ia-1 and Ia-2 asthma patients. The results show that bronchial hyperresponsiveness in patients with type Ia asthma is correlated to patients age and the proportion of BAL eosinophils.

気管支喘息患者Ia型(単純気管支れん縮型)39人(Ia-1型25人,Ia-2型14人)の気道過敏性を年齢,呼吸機能検査,気管支肺胞洗浄液(BAL)中の細胞成分と関連で検討を行った｡1.BAL液中の好酸球の比率はIa-1型に比べIa-2型で優位に高値であった｡2.メサコリンに対しての過敏性はIa-1型とIa-2型とで差を認めなかった｡3.気道過敏性はどちらの病型においても年齢にともなって減弱する傾向にあったが,一秒率及びBAL液中の好中球,リンパ球の比率とは相関しなかった｡4.メサコリンに対しての気道過敏性はIa-1型,Ia-2型ともにBAL液中の好酸球の比率が増加するにしたがって亢進した｡以上より単純気管支れん縮型(Ia型)の気管支喘息患者の気道過敏性はその年齢,BAL液中の好酸球の比率に相関することが示唆された｡