Assessment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder in relation to reversibility, IgE, eosinophil, and neutrophil count in a University Teaching Hospital in South Delhi, India

OBJECTIVES: The physiological and clinical similarities between asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) make their differentiation difficult. In the present study, we compared reversibility to bronchodilator, immunoglobulin E (IgE), blood eosinophil and neutrophil levels among asthma and COPD patients to differentiate these diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried on 20 asthmatics and 29 patients of COPD that reported to the outpatient and inpatient department in University Teaching Hospital, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India. The parameters evaluated included pulmonary function (FEV(1), FVC, and FEV(1)/FVC), IgE levels, and eosinophil and neutrophil count. RESULTS: It was observed that reversibility was significantly higher in asthmatic patients, while irreversibility predominates in COPD patients. There was no significant difference in pre- and post-FEV(1) and pre- and post-FVC and in their percentage predicted. However the percentage change in FEV(1) significantly varies in asthma and COPD patients. No significant changes in neutrophil and eosinophil levels were observed in these patients. The serum IgE levels were found significantly higher in asthmatic patients. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that reversibility in FEV(1) levels or percentage change in FEV(1) and serum IgE levels are promising lab parameter to distinguish these two conditions. However, further research is required to fully understand the role of neutrophil and eosinophil in the onset and development of asthma and COPD.