This study was done on 15 patients with extrinsic asthma (group I), 15 patients with intrinsic asthma ( group II) and 10 normal controls (group III). We studied soluble intedeukin —2 receptors (sIL— 2R) and eosinophils in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of all asthmatics 30minutes after relief of the acute attack and one week later during remission and also in blood and BAL fluid of group III (controls) . Pulmonary function tests, including forced vital capacity (1-VC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) and peak expiratory flow rate (PEER) were done for all subjects . Our study showed increased level of sit — 2R in both blood and BAL fluid of all asthmatics during attack that decreased significantly during remission . Absolute eosinophilic count wa's statistically high in all asthmatics during attack in both blood and BAL fluid and it was higher in the extrinsic variety . During remission absolute eosinophilic count in both blood and BAL fluid of all asthmatics decreased significantly . We found negative correlation between PEFR and both sIL-2R and eosinophil count in both blood and BAL fluid of all asthmatics . We concluded that Tlymphocyte eosinophil interaction may take place in cases of extrinsic and intrinsic asthma and continuous activation of T- cells may be responsible for the processes that could lead to asthma . We also concluded that the easily accessible serum sIL-2R is a satisfactory reflection Of BAL fluid status . We suggested that serial measurements of sit — 2R may be useful in monitoring bronchial 'asthma activity . Directing research work to discover new therapeutic agents that can prevent T-cell-eosinophil interaction will be x ery helpful to asthmatics. |
