Blood inflammatory patterns in different respiratory phenotypes from general population

Background: Few studies have considered the distribution of the granulocytes in the blood of different respiratory phenotypes. Aims: The relationship between the pattern of inflammatory cells in the blood andthe phenotypes of asthma, rhinitis and chronic respiratory symptoms. Methods: The peripheral blood eosinophil (EO), neutrophil (NE) and basophil (BA) count was measured in a sample of cases (allergic (146) and non allergic rhinitis (62), past (104) and current asthma (181), COPD (25), other chronic respi- ratory diagnosis (81)) and controls (185), identified in the ongoing GEIRD study (Verona, Italy). Cases and controls were diagnosed during a clinical examination that included a detailed interview, pre/post bronchodilator spirometry, methacoline challenge, skin prick tests. The average difference in cell count with respect to controls, adjusted for confounders, was estimated in each phenotype. Results: In the general population (see figure), all subjects with respiratory diseases (except non allergic rhinitis and COPD) showed a statistically significant higher EO and BA count with respect to controls with a wide variation among phenotypes. NE count showed a relevant increase only in COPD. Adjusted percentage variation of the granulocyte count with respect to controls.