Cytological Phenotypes of Spontaneous Sputum in the Assessment of the Presence and Type of Bronchopulmonary Inflammation in Patients with Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

This study was done in order to determine the cellular phenotypes of spontaneous sputum, and to evaluate the features of respiratory inflammation based on sputum cytology results. The study looked at 72 patients, with 23 patients having moderate asthma in combination with chronic bronchitis (asthma + CB), 18 patients having moderate asthma in combination with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (asthma + COPD), and 31 patients having only COPD. All patients were studied during a period of disease exacerbation and had a productive cough. Eosinophilic, neutrophilic, epithelial and macrophagic phenotypes were determined. Mono cellular phenotypes were rare, with patients with asthma and COPD having a predominantly multi cellular phenotype. It is widely accepted and confirmed in international statements (GINA, GOLD) that broncho pulmonary inflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). For this reason, doctors and researchers are interested in studying sputum, which is a product of the respiratory tract.