Changes in the Proportions of Bronchoalveolar Lymphocytes, Neutrophils and Basophilic Cells and the Release of Histamine and Leukotrienes from Bronchoalveolar Cells in Patients with Steroid-Dependent Intractable Asthma

Abstract

The proportion of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and the release of chemical mediators from BAL and peripheral blood cells were examined in 40 patients with steroid-dependent intractable asthma (SDIA) to clarify the effects of a long-term glucocorticoid regimen on these cells. The proportion of BAL lymphocytes was significantly reduced (p 4 (LTC₄) from the BAL cells of patients with atopic asthma was significantly reduced in SDIA patients compared with non-SDIA patients (p 4 from BAL cells.