Comparative study of eosinophil count in peripheral blood, sputum and BAL fluid in patients of bronchial asthma

Abstract

Bronchial Asthma is defined by the history of respiratory symptoms such as wheeze, shortness of breath, chest tightness and cough that vary over time and in intensity, together with variable expiratory airflow limitation. Airflow limitation may later become persistent over the course of disease. To compare the findings of eosinophil counts in peripheral blood, induced sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in asthmatic patients and healthy individuals. This Case Control Cross sectional study was conducted among patients attending respiratory OPD at Sir Sunder Lal Hospital, BHU, Varanasi, with diagnosis of bronchial asthma (100) and healthy controls. Significant association was found between eosinophilic bronchial asthma and absolute eosinophil count (W = 1168.000, p = 0.020), total serum IgE (W = 1338.000, p = <0.001), BAL eosinophil count (χ2 = 94.589, p = <0.001), sputum eosinophil count (χ2 = 14.057, p = <0.001).