Sputum Neutrophil elastase in pediatric bronchiectasis

Abstract

Bronchiectasis is a chronic lung disease caused by a cycle of infection and inflammation that results in permanent structural damage to the small airways and sometimes causes destruction of adjacent lung parenchyma, Bronchiectasis is a heterogeneous disease; severity is variable and is impacted by the extent of lung involvement, the microbiologic complications and co-existing disorders. Sputum neutrophil elastase have been correlated with increased frequency and severity of pulmonary exacerbation and rapid deterioration in lung function. The aim of this study was to assess the value of sputum neutrophil elastase as a biomarker of severity in cases of bronchectasis & cystic fibrosis. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 50 patients (30 cystic fibrosis and 20 non cystic fibrosis bronchectasis) with the same age range (1-13 years), Patients were recruited from the pediatric chest clinic and chest department of the Children's Hospital; Ain shams university hospitals. Quantitative neutrophil elastase in sputum was measured in both cystic fibrosis and non-CF bronchiectasis patients . Correlations were done between sputum neutrophil elastase ,anthropometric measurements, inflammatory markers, pulmonary function tests, sputum microbiology, clinical and radiological scores.