Induced sputum in the management of COPD: clinical implications

Submitted: December 3, 2015
Accepted: December 3, 2015
Published: December 3, 2015
Abstract Views: 868
PDF: 521
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Sputum induction can be used as a non-invasive technique to investigate airway inflammation in asthma and COPD. We reported the case of a 68 year old man with COPD, stage III GOLD, that underwent sputum induction during two exacerbation episodes. The first cell count showed a typical sputum neutrophilia, whereas the second showed sputum eosinophilia. On the basis of sputum cellularity, we decided to treat the first episode with a course of antibiotics and the second exacerbation with a course of antibiotics and oral steroids. The patient showed improvement in both cases, obtaining clinical stabilisation. The induced sputum cell count could be a useful technique in a clinical setting to evaluate the cellular characteristics of airway inflammation during COPD exacerbation and modulate the antinflammatory therapy.

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Zanini, A., S. Della Patrona, A.L. Facchini, and A. Spanevello. 2015. “Induced Sputum in the Management of COPD: Clinical Implications”. Monaldi Archives for Chest Disease 77 (1). https://doi.org/10.4081/monaldi.2012.163.