Sputum measurements to assess airway inflammation in asthma

Infiltration of the airways mucosa with activated inflammatory cells appears top be a major factor in the pathogenesis of asthma and other airway diseases. The cell and molecular markers of this inflammation have recently been studied by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and bronchial biopsies but the scope of these studies has been limited by their invasiveness. Examination of sputum is the only noninvasive method to investigate the airway inflammation directly but i t has been considered to be unreliable. In this presentation, we will provide validation of a standardized method of sputum cell counts, we will discuss new methods of examination of sputum cell and molecular markers of the inflammation, and we will illustrate how the use of sputum promises to provide new insights into understanding inflammatory airway diseases.