抄録
Background: The effect of short-term corticosteroid treatment for airway inflammation in asthma is not well known. To investigate this effect, we analyzed bronchial mucosal biopsy samples.
Methods: We obtained endobronchial biopsy specimens from subjects with asthma with or without corticosteroid pretreatment. Samples obtained were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining (CD4, CD25 and EG2).
Results: Activated eosinophils were significantly reduced in the corticosteroid-premedicated group (CS+) compared with the unpremedicated (CS-) group. In contrast, no significant reduction was observed in CD4-positive T lymphocytes between the two groups. The number of CD25-positive T lymphocytes was more suppressed in the premedicated than in the unpremedicated group.
Conclusions: The effect of corticosteroid on eosinophils in bronchial mucosa develops within a few days. However, for a clinically significant effect, long-term corticosteroid treatment may be needed to inactivate and displace T lymphocytes from the airway mucosa.
