Helenius I J, Rytilä P, Metso T, Haahtela T, Venge P, Tikkanen H O
Department of Allergology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
Allergy. 1998 Apr;53(4):346-52. doi: 10.1111/j.1398-9995.1998.tb03904.x.
To investigate respiratory symptoms, increased bronchial responsiveness, and signs of airway inflammation in elite swimmers, we examined 29 swimmers from the Finnish national team and 19 healthy control subjects (nonasthmatic, symptom-free). They answered a questionnaire and were interviewed for respiratory symptoms. Lung volumes were measured and bronchial responsiveness assessed by a histamine challenge test. Induced sputum samples were also collected. Fourteen (48%) of the swimmers and three (16%) of the control subjects showed increased bronchial responsiveness (P<0.05). The sputum cell differential counts of eosinophils (mean 2.7% vs 0.2%) and neutrophils (54.7% vs 29.9%) from swimmers were significantly higher than those from controls (P<0.01). Eosinophilia (sputum differential eosinophil count of >4%) was observed in six (21%) of the swimmers and in none of the controls (P<0.05). Symptomatic swimmers had significantly more sputum eosinophils than did the symptom-free. The concentrations of sputum eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) and human neutrophil lipocalin (HNL) were significantly higher in swimmers than control subjects (P<0.001 and P=0.05). We conclude that elite swimmers had significantly more often increased bronchial responsiveness than control subjects. Sputum from swimmers contained a higher percentage of eosinophils and neutrophils, and higher concentrations of EPO and HNL than sputum from controls. Long-term and repeated exposure to chlorine compounds in swimming pools during training and competition may contribute to the increased occurrence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness and airway inflammation in swimmers.
为了调查优秀游泳运动员的呼吸道症状、支气管反应性增加以及气道炎症迹象，我们检查了29名芬兰国家队游泳运动员和19名健康对照者（非哮喘患者，无症状）。他们回答了一份问卷，并接受了关于呼吸道症状的访谈。测量了肺容量，并通过组胺激发试验评估了支气管反应性。还收集了诱导痰样本。14名（48%）游泳运动员和3名（16%）对照者表现出支气管反应性增加（P<0.05）。游泳运动员痰液中嗜酸性粒细胞（平均2.7%对0.2%）和中性粒细胞（54.7%对29.9%）的细胞分类计数显著高于对照者（P<0.01）。6名（21%）游泳运动员出现嗜酸性粒细胞增多（痰液嗜酸性粒细胞分类计数>4%），而对照者均未出现（P<0.05）。有症状的游泳运动员痰液中的嗜酸性粒细胞明显多于无症状者。游泳运动员痰液中嗜酸性粒细胞过氧化物酶（EPO）和人中性粒细胞脂质运载蛋白（HNL）的浓度显著高于对照者（P<0.001和P=0.05）。我们得出结论，优秀游泳运动员支气管反应性增加的情况明显比对照者更常见。与对照者的痰液相比，游泳运动员的痰液中嗜酸性粒细胞和中性粒细胞的百分比更高，EPO和HNL的浓度也更高。在训练和比赛期间长期反复接触游泳池中的氯化合物可能导致游泳运动员支气管高反应性和气道炎症的发生率增加。
