Subclinical Nasal and Lung Lymphocytosis in Ulcerative Colitis.

BACKGROUND: Extraintestinal manifestations are common in ulcerative colitis (UC). Data regarding pulmonary and nasal mucosa involvement are sparse. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate, by using induced sputum (IS) and nasal cytology (NC), the cytological pattern of the lung and nose in patients with UC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 15 consecutive subjects from the outpatient department with a recent diagnosis of UC. On the same day of enrollment, we performed a global spirometry, including a lung diffusing capacity test, IS analysis, and evaluation of NC. RESULTS: IS analysis showed an increase in lymphocytes in UC patients when compared to those of controls (2.8 ± 0.9 vs. 0.2 ± 0.4%; p < 0.01). NC showed a similar increase in lymphocytes (12.5 ± 5.30 vs. 3.5 ± 4.0%; p < 0.01). We found a positive correlation between lymphocyte counts in IS and NC (r = 0.775; p < 0.001) and between lymphocytes in IS and NC and grade of intestinal inflammation (r = 0.603, p = 0.015; r = 0.60, p = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrated that UC patients may have a subclinical nasal and lung lymphocytosis.

Regular CPAP utilization reduces nasal inflammation assessed by nasal cytology in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze nasal inflammation in a group of patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) by means of nasal cytology and to describe the changes induced by continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) treatment. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Thirty-two consecutive patients affected by OSAS (mean age 46.9 years) and 13 control subjects (mean age 49.1 years) were enrolled. Detailed clinical, laboratory, and polysomnographic studies were obtained in all participants and, in particular, nasal cytology was performed; inflammatory cells (neutrophils, eosinophils, mast cells, lymphocytes), bacteria, and spores were counted. A subgroup of 19 OSAS patients underwent regular nasal CPAP for eight weeks while the remaining 13 were noncompliant. Nasal cytology was repeated after eight weeks in all patients and controls. RESULTS: All patients with OSAS were affected by some form of rhinopathy, mostly subclinical, which was not found to influence compliance to CPAP. Regular CPAP treatment induced a significant reduction of cell infiltration (neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, and muciparous cells), which was not seen in nontreated patients. CONCLUSION: Nasal inflammation/infection is a very frequent finding in OSAS and can be reverted by the regular use of CPAP.