[Characteristic of cell components in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in patients with bronchial asthma classified by clinical symptoms].

The characteristics of cell components in BALF were examined in three groups of 104 patients with bronchial asthma, classified by clinical symptoms. 1. The frequency of neutrophils in BALF was significantly higher in patients with hypersecretion type (Ib) and in cases with bronchiolar obstruction type (II) than in cases with simple bronchoconstriction type (Ia). 2. A significantly higher proportions of neutrophils in BALF was observed in atopic asthmatics with type Ib than in non-atopic asthmatics with type Ib. 3. More frequency with moderate or high grade of eosinophilia in BALF were observed in cases with type Ib, whether they were atopic or non-atopic type. 4. More frequency with moderate or high grade of neutrophilia in BALF were observed in atopic cases with Ib and in both atopic and non-atopic cases with II. 5. Cases with moderate and high grade of both eosinophilia and neutrophilia in BALF were more frequent in atopic cases with Ib. The results suggest followings--1) both eosinophils and neutrophils participate in hypersecretion of type Ib in atopic cases, and only eosinophils in non-atopic cases. 2) neutrophils participate in bronchiolar obstruction of type II, whether they are atopic or non-atopic cases.