Facultad de Medicina

The aim of this study was to assess the degree of asthma control according to GINA criteria during two different seasons in Spain. An multicenter, longitudinal, epidemiological study with the participation of a sample of physicians in Spain was conducted. Consecutive asthma patients, 18 years of age and older, seeking primary and specialist care were included in the study. Patients were seen during the winter and spring 2004 and were asked about asthma control according to GINA control criteria (daytime and nighttime symptoms, asthma exacerbations, limitations of physical activity, and visits to the emergency department) during the 4 weeks prior to the visit. Control was defined according to daytime and nighttime symptoms. A total of 614 patients participated in the study. The proportion of patients reporting daytime symptoms ‘‘every day’’ or ‘‘most days’’ during the winter versus spring was 40.1% vs. 23% ðPo0:01Þ; 26.9% vs. 14.1% presented symptoms at night ðPo0:01Þ; 11.5% vs. 8.3% had severe exacerbations; 33.5% vs. 35.7% presented symptoms accompanying exercise, and 9.4% vs. 4.3% ðPo0:01Þ had required emergency visits. The number of patients with inadequate control was slightly higher in winter than in spring (74.4% vs. 71%) ðPo0:01Þ. The most commonly prescribed treatment was ICS plus LABAs for both periods.

Eosinophils are important effector cells in allergic inflammation described in allergic rhinitis (AR) and allergic bronchial asthma (BA). During the pollen season serum levels of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and eosinophil X protein/eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EPX/EDN) are increased in BA. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the serum levels of ECP and EPX in pollen atopic patients with AR and BA during the winter. 92 patients were studied. They were divided into three groups: I 29 patients with AR, II 51 patients with BA and 111 12 healthy subjects. Allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma were diagnosed by routine clinical tests: clinical history, skin tests, total lgE and specific lgE. In addition ECP and EPX were determined in serum. All patients were asymptomatic, stable and without medical treatment. Methacholine challenge test (MCT) was performed in all patients. MCT were positive in 4 patients of group I and 45 patients of group 11. ECP levels (ug/I) were: 21'(1), 24 (II) and 7 (Ill). EPX levels (ug/1) were 35 (I), 45 (II) and 21 (Il l). Statistical differences (p< 0.01) were obseNed both in ECP and EPX levels in patients with MCT positive in relation to patients with MCT negative, and in allergic patients (I and II) in comparison with the healthy subjects (Ill) (p< 0.01). ECP and EPX serum levels are increased in patients with a positive MCT in the winter, out of the pollen season, when patients are asymptomatic, stable and without treatment. This fact suggests that eosinophils play an important role in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma.