To elucidate the role of T lymphocyte activation and eosinophilic infiltrations in the bronchial tree of
patients with bronchial asthma and the effect of salbutamol and anhydrous theophylline on these parameters, a
study was carried out on twenty patients having extrinsic asthma (group I), twenty with intrinsic asthma
(group II) and ten healthy controls (group III). Soluble Interleukin-2 receptors (sIL-2R), eosinophilic count
both in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and blood were performed immediately after the relief of acute attack
and one week later during remission. Physiologic parameters including FEVI, FVC and PEFR were also done
during acute attack and 20 minutes after inhalation of nebulized salbutamol. Each group of asthmatic patients
were divided into two subgroups, group Ia and group Ha received salbutamol and group lb and group lb
received anhydrous theophylline. The mean serum and BAL sIL-2R and eosinophilic count were significantly
higher in acute episode of asthma compared to normal controls, moreover, there was a positive correlation
between sIL-2R and eosinophilic count with an inverse relationship with PEFR. Seven days after the acute
attack, patients received salbutamol did not show any significant decrease in either sIL-2R or eosinophilic
count in BAL fluid and blood, on the other hand significant Suction was observed in patients receiving
anhydrous theophylline. Therefore, it could be concluded that T cell activation with increased eosinophilic
infiltration in bronchial tree may lead to enhanced bronchial hyperreactivity in patients with bronchial asthma,
anhydrous theophylline possesses antiinflanunatory action by virtue of its inhibitory effect on T lymphocyte
activation which might recommend its long term use in asthmatic patients. |
