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Background Understanding the burden of disease is important to establish cost-effective treatment strategies and to allocate healthcare resources appropriately. However, little reliable information is available regarding the overall economic burden imposed by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Korea. Methods This study is a multicenter observational research on the COPD burden in Korea. Total COPD costs were comprised of three categories: direct medical, direct non-medical, and indirect costs. For direct medical costs, institutional investigation was performed at 13 medical facilities mainly based on the claims data. For direct non-medical and indirect costs, site-based surveys were administered to the COPD patients during routine visits. Total costs were estimated using the COPD population defined in the recent report. Results The estimated total costs were approximately 1,245 million US dollar (1,408 billion Korean won). Direct medical costs comprised approximately 20% of the total estimated costs. Of these, formal medical costs held more than 80%. As direct non-medical costs, nursing costs made up the largest percentage (39%) of the total estimated costs. Costs for COPD-related loss of productivity formed four fifths of indirect costs, and accounted for up to 33% of the total costs. Conclusion This study shows for the first time the direct and indirect costs of COPD in Korea. The total costs were enormous, and the costs of nursing and lost productivity comprised approximately 70% of total costs. The results provide insight for an effective allocation of healthcare resources and to inform establishment of strategies to reduce national burden of COPD.

Background: Understanding the burden of disease is important to establish cost-effective treatment strategies and to allocate healthcare resources appropriately. However, little reliable information is available regarding the overall economic burden imposed by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Korea. Methods: This study is a multicenter observational research on the COPD burden in Korea. Total COPD costs were comprised of three categories: direct medical, direct non-medical, and indirect costs. For direct medical costs, institutional investigation was performed at 13 medical facilities mainly based on the claims data. For direct non-medical and indirect costs, site-based surveys were administered to the COPD patients during routine visits. Total costs were estimated using the COPD population defined in the recent report. Results: The estimated total costs were approximately 1,245 million US dollar (1,408 billion Korean won). Direct medical costs comprised approximately 20% of the total estimated costs. Of these, formal medical costs held more than 80%. As direct non-medical costs, nursing costs made up the largest percentage (39%) of the total estimated costs. Costs for COPD-related loss of productivity formed four fifths of indirect costs, and accounted for up to 33% of the total costs. Conclusion: This study shows for the first time the direct and indirect costs of COPD in Korea. The total costs were enormous, and the costs of nursing and lost productivity comprised approximately 70% of total costs. The results provide insight for an effective allocation of healthcare resources and to inform establishment of strategies to reduce national burden of COPD.

1 , Jong Won Park, M.D. Background: The rising prevalence of asthma worldwide may be associated with the rising prevalence of obesity in developed nations. Although several studies have suggested a relationship between asthma and obesity, controversy still remains. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between obesity and asthmatic factors such as atopy, eosinophilia, serum total Ig E and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in chronic cough patients. Methods: This study was a retrospective, observational study in two centers done between January 2007 and June 2008. The subjects included individuals who had a chronic cough. We examined body mass index (BMI) to measure obesity and pulmonary function. We did a metacholine provocation test for airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), a skin prick test for atopy, and tests for blood eosinophils and serum IgE. Results: A total of 1022 subjects were included. Airway hyperresponsiveness was not related with obesity (p=0.06), and atopy incidence was significant higher in non obese patients (p=0.00). There was no significant difference in serum IgE and blood eosinophil counts between obese and non obese patients. Forced expiratory volue in one second (FEV 1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) was significantly reduced in obese patients (p=0.03), but FEV1 and FVC were no significant difference between obese and non obese patients. Conclusion: There is no relationship between obesity and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. The nonobese group appears to have more atopy. The relationship between obesity and bronchial hyperresponsiveness and atopy need further investigation.

Methods: Fifty patients with COPD were enrolled in this study. Their subjective dyspnea score (modified Borg scale dyspnea index), spirometry, and lung volume were measured. Simultaneous hyperinflations of chest x-ray score ("chest score") and degree of emphysema of HRCT ("HRCT score") were measured. The "chest score" were composed of lung length, retrosternal space width, and height of the arc of the diaphragm and "HRCT score" were composed of severity and extent of emphysema. Results: The mean age of patients was 69 years old and their mean FEV1 was 51.7%. The Borg score significantly correlated with parameters of spirometry and lung volume, including FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, RV, RV/TLC, and DLCO. The Borg score correlated well with "HRCT score", but did not correlate with "chest score". Also, the Borg scale correlates inversely with body mass index. Conclusion: The quantity of emphysema on chest HRCT may serve as an objective marker of dyspnea in patients with COPD.

Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) or allergic granulomatous angiitis is a rare syndrome that is characterized by hypereosinophilic systemic necrotizing vasculitis affecting small- to medium-sized arteries and veins. In gen-eral, it occurs in individuals with pre-existing allergic asthm a. When CSS appears in patients, it has the follow-ing characteristics: eosinophilia of more than 10% in peripheral blood, paranasal sinusitis, pulmonary in-filtrates, histological proof of vasculitis with extravascular eosinophils, and mononeuritis multiplex or polyneuropathy. Therapeutic trials dedicated to Churg-Strauss syndrome have been limited due to the rarity of this disorder and the difficulty in making a histological diagnosis. Proper treatment of patients with CSS is not widely known. In this case study, we report on our experience with an unusual patient case, charac-terized by purpura and a perforation of the small intestine after inadequate steroid therapy.Key Words: Churg-Strauss syndrome, Asthma, Intestinal perforation, Eosinophilic infiltration

Bronchogenic cyst arises from anomalous budding of the primitive foregut during embryonic development and it represents a part of the spectrum of bronchopulmonary foregut malformations. Approximately two-thirds of the malformations are found within the mediastinum, and one-third are found in the lung parenchyma. The prevalence of bronchogenic cyst is unknown, presumably because most patients are asymptomatic. Incidentally detected bronchogenic cysts are usually removed at the time of diagnosis. We do not know how and why bronchogenic cysts grow. We recently experienced a case of rapidly growing mediastinal mass in a young adult, and this presented as a huge mass that had newly developed within one year. This mass was pathologically confirmed to be a bronchogenic cyst. We report on this case of a rapidly growing bronchogenic cyst, which is a rare characteristic of this type of cyst.

Reexpansion pulmonary edema is not a common phenomenon after chest tube insertion but some reports from 0% to 14%. There are various resulting complications, including acute respiratory distress syndrome. We report a case of focal reexpansion pulmonary edema after chest tube insertion. A 49-year-old male came to the hospital due to ongoing dyspnea and left chest pain for 3 days. On chest X-ray, the patient had a left pneumothrax. We planned to insert a chest tube for symptom relief. To determine whether or not the chest had expanded as a result of the chest tube insertion, the patient underwent repeated chest X-rays the following day. The patient experienced brief respiratory symptoms upon initial suction; a chest PA showed patchy consolidated infiltration at the inserted site. After 5 days of conservative management, the recovered completely.

Neurilemmomas are benign nerve sheath tumors derived from Schwann cells that rarely occur in the chest wall. Neurilemmomas of the chest wall are usually solitary lesions th at bulge toward the pleural cavity. Neurilemmomas are confirmed histologically based on the presence of Verocay bodies, Antoni A and Antoni B tissue patterns and S-100 protein. Bilateral neurilemmomas in the chest wall are extremely rare, as are those that grow in the subcutaneous tissue but not the pleural area. We report here a case of bilateral chest wall neurilemmomas in which the tumors bulged out to the skin and were palpable. (Tuberc Respir Dis 2008;65:318-322)Key Words: Bilateral neurilemmomas, Chest wall

결핵균은 공기를 매개로 전파되고 결핵균에 노출된 시간과 최초의 노출 정도가 전파의 위험을 증가 시키는 중요한 인자로 알려져 있다. 활동성 폐결핵 환자와 함께 생활하는 가족 내에서 감염이 현저히 증가하는데 이는 결핵균에 노출되는 기회 및 시간이 증가하기 때문이다. 하지만 고식적인 접촉자 조사만으로는 흔히 결핵 발생률을 과소평가할 수 있기 때문에 접촉자 조사와 결핵균의 유전형 조사를 병행하는 것이 감염의 위험이 높은 집단을 선별해내고 발생빈도 및 전염경로를 밝히는 데 보다 효과적인 것으로 보고되고 있다. 이에 접촉자 조사와 결핵균의 유전형 조사를 통해 가족 내 결핵균 전파를 증명한 1예를 보고하는 바이다. (Tuberc Respir Dis 2008;65:512-516)

Tracheomegaly is a distinctive condition that presents with marked dilation of the trachea. Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is the result of alveolar rupture with dissection of the airway along the bronchus and into the mediastinum. Tracheomegaly and recurrent spontaneous pneumomediastinum are rare complications of pulmonary fibrosis when combined with rheumatoid arthritis. We present a case of tracheomegaly and recurrent spontaneous pneumomediastinum that was precipitated by repeated respiratory infection and chronic cough in a patient with pulmonary fibrosis that was associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

A bronchial artery aneurysm is a rare condition, which needs optimal treatment due to the possibility of a life-threatening hemorrhage by rupture. The surgical removal of the aneurysm is the standard treatment. However, there are a few reports of coil embolization with a transcatheter. A 69 year-old man was referred for a further evaluation of a mass in the right hilum on chest radiography. He denied any respiratory symptoms. A chest CT scan showed a 3 × 3 × 4.5 cm sized vascular mass with strong contrast enhancement on the right hilar area that originated from the bronchial artery. On the angiogram, the bronchial artery originated from the descending thoracic aorta at the T8 level. A bronchial artery aneurysm was catheterized selectively. and embolized successfully with a coil. After coil embolization, the selective bronchial arteriography confirmed complete occlusion. We report this case of bronchial aneurysm that was treated successfully with coil embolization. (Tuberc Respir Dis 2007; 62: 62-66)

A 29-year-old female patient presented with exertional dyspnea that she had suffered with for 2 months. The chest X-ray displayed right pleural effusion that was diagnosed as chyle, according to the level of cholesterol and triglyceride in the pleural fluid. VATS (video assisted thoracic surgery) of the right lung was performed on the 7th day of hospitalization for obtaining a lung biopsy and to control the of pneumochylothorax. On the 11th hospitalization day, VATS of left lung was also performed to control the recurrent pneumothorax via pleurodesis. The lung biopsy showed moderate amounts of spindle-shaped and rounded cells (so-called LAM cells), which were reactive to actin and HMB45 (on immunohistochemical stains). We report here on a rare case of lymphangioleiomyomatosis combined with chylothorax and bilateral pneumothroraces.

A 29-year-old male patient was admitted due to his general weak ness and poor oral intake for several months. He was diagnosed as having Crohn disease 16 years ago and total colect omy was performed 10 years ago. On the 3rd day after admission, gross hematuria and sudden hemoptysis combined with diffuse infiltration were noted on chest X-ray. His symptoms and the diffusely increased lung opacities improved wi th administering high-dose steroid therapy. Later, anti-GBM antibody was found to be positive on the laboratory fi ndings. We report here on a rare case of Goodpsture syndrome combined with prolonged Crohn disease along with a review of literature. (Tuberc Respir Dis 2006; 61: 384-388)Key word: Goodpsture syndrome, Crohn disease, anti-GBM antibody Address for correspondence : Soo-taek Uh, M.D. Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, School of Medicine, 657, Hannam-Dong, Yougsan-Ku, Seoul 140-743, KoreaPhone: +82-2-709-9482, Fax: +82-2-709-9554E-mail: uhs@hosp.sch.ac.krReceived : May. 18. 2006Accepted : Aug. 14. 2006

Background : A pulmonary embolism often presents with nonspecific symptoms and signs. However, a delayed diagnosis can result in catastrophic outcome. The majority of preventable deaths associated with a pulmonary embolism can be ascribed to a missed diagnosis rather than to the failure of existing treatments. Therefore, accurate and rapid diagnostic methods are essential for the management of a pulmonary embolism. The recent generation of multidetector-row spiral CT scanners appears to outperform other imaging modalities in detecting a central and peripheral pulmonary embolism. However, there are some variations in the interpretations of the findings between observers. This study examined the inter-observer differences of the diagnoses in patients with a pulmonary embolism. Method : 64 patients who were diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism either clinically or with spiral chest CT from 2002 to 2004, were included. Two thoracic radiologists interpreted the multidetector-row spiral CT in terms of the diagnosis of a pulmonary embolism and the location of the thrombus independently. Among 64 patients, 14 patients were excluded because there was no evidence of a pulmonary embolism or there was different interpretation of the pulmonary embolism between radiologists. A clinical diagnosis was based on "Rules for predicting the probability of embolism". Results : The mean score of the patients according to the Wells method was (0-9). The accordance of the radiologists was 95% in the main, 85% in the lobar, 91.2% in the segmental, and 96% in the sub-segmental pulmonary arteries. After excluding the negative interpretation from both radiologists, their agreement was 76.2%( 0.83) in the main, 57.6%( 0.63) in the lobar, 51.5%( 0.63) in the segmental, and 34.6%( 0.49) in the sub-segmental pulmonary arteries. Conclusion : Chest CT has been recently applied to patients suspected of having a pulmonary embolism. It was found that spiral CT is a rapid test for diagnosing a thrombus, and there was reliable accordance between the observers from the area of the large pulmonary arteries. However, there was a lack of agreement between the observers in diagnosing thrombi located distal to the sub-segmental arteries.

Background : Diagnosing a pulmonary embolism is difficult because its presenting symptoms are nonspecific and there are limitations with all of the objective tests. The D-dimer is known to be a marker of the lysis of intravascular cross-linked fibrin as a result of the activation of the endogenous fibrinolytic pathways, and the D-dimer assay is these an objective method for diagnosing a pulmonary embolism. This study assessed the benefits of the D-dimer test for diagnosing a pulmonary embolism using semiquantitative latex agglutination. Methods : The latex agglutination results of 185 patients were retrospectively reviewed. The D-dimer test was performed at the time a pulmonary embolism was suspected. Ninety patients(group I) were diagnosis with PE through spiral chest CT or a chest CT angiogram, perfusion/ventilation scans, and/or pulmonary angiogram. Ninety-five patients (group II) were found not to have a pulmonary embolism through the above tests. Results : The male to female ratio and mean age in groups I and II was 37:55, and 57 years old to 50:45 and 52 years old, respectively. When the cut off value for a positive D-dimer assay was set to , the sensitivity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and specificity was 86.7%, 61.4%, 79.3%, and 48.4%, respectively. Conclusion : The semiquantitative latex agglutination method in the D-dimer test has a lower sensitivity and negative predictive value than the well known ELISA test particularly for small emboli. Therefore, this test is not a suitable screening test for excluding a pulmonary embolism.

Aspergillus fumigatus causes a variety clinical syndrome in lung including aspergilloma, chronic necrotizing aspergillosis, invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. Aspergilloma develops by a colonization and growing of Aspergillus inside lung cavities with underlying lung disease. There is a few report of endobronchial aspergilloma without lung parenchymal lesion. We experienced a case of endobronchial aspergilloma did not fit any category of Aspergillus-induced lesion, who show minimal fibrostreaky denstities on chest PA and chest CT. Massive hemoptysis was improved by a removal of the aspergilloma in this patient. Here, we report a rare case of endobronchial aspergilloma showing massive hemoptysis with review of literatures. (Tuberc Respir Dis 2004; 57:589-593)

Background : A tracheobronchial obstruction in lung cancer is associated with significant morbidity and mortality due to dyspnea, cough, hemoptysis, and recurrent respiratory infection. It is well known that one of standard treatments is photodynamic therapy (PDT) in tracheobronchial obstruction after radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and/or surgery. We reported here the role of PDT in airway obstruction in patients advanced lung cancer. Method : Pre-treatment protocol consisted of clinical, radiologic, and bronchoscopic examination, pulmonary function test, and assessment of Karnofsky performance status. A 2 mg/kg of porfimer sodium was injected intravenously, and then followed by cylindrical and/or interstitial irradiation with 630 nm of laser after 48 hours. The repeated bronchoscopy for debridement of necrotic tissue and re-illumination was performed after 48 hours. Result : Improved airway obstruction and selective tumor necrosis were achieved by photodynamic therapy in all cases. Dyspnea and performance status were improved in three cases. A purulent sputum, fever and hemoptysis were improved in one of five cases. After PDT, all patients showed temporarily aggravation of dyspnea, two of five showed febrile reaction for a few days and nobody presented photosensitivity reaction, hemoptysis and respiratory failure. Conclusion : Our experiences of PDT are effective in palliation of inoperable advanced lung cancer in terms of tracheobronchial obstruction. (Tuberc Respir Dis 2004; 57:72-77)

Background : Usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) is a progressive fibrous lung disease with occasional fatal outcomes. However, the extent and rate of progression varies markedly from one patient to another. As a result, it is difficult to determine the time of the initial treatment and assess the disease activity and course. Fibroblast foci (FF) is well known to synthesize collagen actively by their myofibroblasts component. However, the prognostic value of the FF have not been evaluated in patients with VIP. Therefore this study was undertaken to determine how the number of fibroblastic foci can reflect the disease activity and progression. Methods: Twenty patients with UIP(M : F=13 : 7), who were diagnosed by a surgical lung biopsy. The number of fibroblastic foci was analyzed in terms of its correlation with the clinical manifostations, pulmonary function test, arterial blood gas analysis, and a bronchoalveolar lavage(BAL). Results : The number of fibroblastic foci did not correlate with the various lung function tests and the other clinical parameters. Interestingly, the percentage of neutrophils in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid did correlate with the quantity of the normalized Vv of FF(r=0.60, p

Background: TNF-alpha is related to the generation of lung fibrosis in patients with UIP. The precise mechanism leading to lung fibrosis by TNF-alpha is unknown. However, the activation of a transcription factor like AP-1(down stream of c-jun N-terminal kinase, JNK) by TNF-alpha may be related to the induction of fibrogenic cytokines like PDGF or IGF-I. Furthermore, JNK was reported to be activated in the radiation-induced lung fibrosis model. This study examined JNK activity in patients with UIP. Methods : The expression of phosphorous JNK(p-JNK), macrophage/monocyte specific markers, CD68, and cytokeratin was evaluated by immunohistochemical(IHC) staining of lung tissues from patients with UIP and lung cancer. An in vitro kinase assay was performed with alveolar macrophages obtained by a bronchol-avleolar lavage from patients with UIP and healthy persons as the control. Results : The IHC stain showed that p-JNK is expressed in the almost all of the alveolar macrophages and smooth muscle cells in patients with UIP. In case of the normal areas of the lung from patients with lung cancer, the alveolar macrophages showed little p-JNK expression. Interestingly, increased JNK activity was not found in the in vitro kinase assay of the alveolar macrophages obtained from both patients with UIP and healthy persons as the control. Furthermore, 10 ng/mL of TNF-alpha failed to increase the JNK activity of the alveolar macrophages in both patients with UIP and healthy people. Conclusion : The JNK was activated constitutionally in patients with UIP. However, the role of JNK in the pathogenesis of lung fibrosis needs to be clarified.

Purpose : An anthracofibrosis(AF), dark multiple anthracotic pigmentations combined with narrowing and obstruction of bronchi, was reported to be strongly related with past and active pulmonary tuberculosis. This study was performed to determine whether anti-tuberculous regiemens would be helpful in patients with anthracofibrosis who failed to demonstrate the evidences of pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods : Twenty-two patients with multiple anthracotic pigmentations in bronchial mucosa with luminal narrowing were enrolled in this study. The bacteriological and histological findings for Mycobacterium tuberculosis was reviwed in each patients. They are composed of 8 males and 14 females ranging from 55 to 85 years old in age. Results: The most common symptoms were coughing(73%, 16/22), followed by sputum(41%, 9/22), dyspnea on exertion(32%, 7/22), and hemoptysis(27%, 6/22). The evidence of pulmonary tuberculosis, defined by positive AFB smear or culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from sputum or bronchial washing fluid or histological findings of granuloma with caseous necrosis, were found in eleven patients(50%) and the others has showed no evidences. Among 11 patients without pulmonary tuberculosis, only one patient showed the evidences of pulmonary tuberculosis after 16 months, and the 8 patients still showed no evidence of pulmonary tuberculosis during follow-up periods of ranging from 8 months to 60 months. Conclusions : Beause the anthracofibrosis is closely related to tuberculosis, it needs to find out extensively the evidences of tuberculosis in patients with anthracofibrosis. Chemotherapy for tuberculosis should be administrated only with confirmation of tuberculosis on bacteriologic study.

Background : The underlying pathogenesis of radiation-induced lung fibrosis (RTLF) has not been very well defined. However, the role of TGF- in the generation of RTLF has been a major focus because there is an increase in the expression of both the TGF--RNA and its protein preceding RTLF lesions. The down stream signal after a TGF- stimulated lung fibrosis includes the activation of many mediators such as Smad and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) through TAK1. It is we hypothesized that JNK activation may play a pivotal role in RTLF pathogenesis through increased transcription of the fibrogenic cytokines. The present study evaluates JNK activity in alveolar macrophages after irradiation and the relationship between JNK activity and the amount of collagen in the lung tissues. Methods : C57BL/6 mice(20-25 gr, males) received chlorotetracycline(2g/L) in their drinking water 1 week prior to irradiation and continuously there after. The mice were irradiated once with 1400 cGy of -ray over the whole chest. The cellular composition of the whole lung bronchoalveoalr lavage fluids(BALF), elastin expression in the lung tissues, the level of hydroxyproline in lung tissues, and an in vitro JNK assay was measured before irradiation and one, four, and eight weeks after irradiation (RT). Results : The volumes of BALF retrieved from instilled 4 mL of saline with 2% heparin were 3.7-3.8 mL for each group. The cell numbers were similar before() and 1 week() after RT. At four and eight weeks after RT, the cell number reached to and , respectively. There we no changes in the lymphocytes and neutrophils population observed in the BALF after RT. The H-E stain of the lung tissues did not show any structural and fibrotic change in the lung tissues at 4 and 8 weeks after RT. In addition, the amount of elastin and collagen were not different on Verhoeff staining of the lung tissues before RT to eight weeks after RT. The hydroxyproine content was measured with the left lung dissected from the left main bronchus. The lung were homogenized and hydrolyzed with 6 N Hel for 12 hours at then measured as previously described. The content of hydroxyproline, standardized with a lung protein concentration, reached a peak 4 weeks after RT, and thereafter showed a plateau. AnIn vitro JNK assay using c--GST sepharose beads were performed with the alveolar macrophages obtained from the BAL. JNK activity was not detected prior to RT, However, the JNK activity increased from one week after RT and reached a peak four weeks after RT. Conclusion : JNK may be involved in the pathogenesis because the JNK activity showed similar pattern observed with the hydroxyproine content. However, it is necessary to clarify that the JNK increases the transcription of fibrogenic cyiokines through the transcription factor.

Background : Interleukin-5 (IL-5) is responsible for eosinophilia in allergic diseases. In allergic bronchial asthma, there is a correlation between the extent of eosinophil infiltration in bronchial mucosa and IL-5 concentrations. In addition, IL-2 concentration is elevated in the airways and associated with eosinophilia in symptomatic patients with bronchial asthma. In animal studies, IL-2 can induce eosinophilia by increasing the synthesis of IL-5, however, it is still unknown how IL-2 can induce eosinophila in human being. The aim of this study is to evaluation the effect and mechanism of IL-2 on prolongation of eosinophil survival. Methods : After purifiing the eosinophils from the venous blood of allergic patients with eosinophilia, we measured the survival rates of eosinophils using trypan blue dye exclusion test, and the number of eosinophils with Randolp's solution. We compared the survival rates of eosinophils in the presence of IL-2 or IL-5. Neutralizing antibody for IL-5 was added in IL-2 treated eosinophils to reveal whether IL-2 induced prolongation of eosinophil survival was mediated by IL-5. We checked IL-5 m-RNA expression of lymphocytes in the presence of IL-2 by using Reverse transcription-Polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method to revealed the effect of IL-2 on IL-5 m-RNA expression on lymphocyte. and IL-2 receptors were measured on eosinophils and lymphocytes with flow-cytometer after stimulated with IL-2. Results : 1) Eosinophil survival rates increased dose dependently on IL-5 and IL-2. 2) The eosinophil survival rates increased by IL-2 were not inhibited by the pretreatment with neutralizing antibody for IL-5. 3) IL-5 m-RNA was not expressed on lymphocytes by the treatment with IL-2 up to 96 hours. 4) IL-2 upregulate the expression of IL- on eosinophils, instead of no effect on the expression of IL-. Conclusion: Interleukin-2 had the enhancing effect on the survival rates of eosinophils. The mechanism behind IL-2 induced eosinophilia might be the increment of IL-2 receptors on eosinophils rather than IL-5 synthesis by lymphocytes.