Non-asthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis and its relationship with asthma

Publication date: Available online 5 July 2017 Source:Pulmonary Pharmacology & Therapeutics Author(s): Kefang Lai, Ruchong Chen, Wen Peng, Wenzhi Zhan Non-asthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis (NAEB) is an important cause of chronic cough. The patients with NAEB present irritable cough as a sole or major symptom. They share similar features with asthmatic patients: sputum eosinophilia and responds well to glucocorticosteroids. However, compared with asthma, NAEB subjects have a normal spirometry and absence of airway hyperresponsiveness. The inflammatory cells and airway remodeling might result in the difference of mechanism between NAEB and asthma. On the prognosis of NAEB, only a few studies have been conducted in the last two decades. Whether NAEB should be considered as a distinct entity rather than an early stage of asthma requires further investigation. Assessing sputum eosinophil before and after discontinuing therapy is useful to identify those at risk of relapse.
Source: Pulmonary Pharmacology and Therapeutics - Category: Respiratory Medicine Source Type: research