Changing Pattern of Sputum Cell Counts During Successive Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

BACKGROUND: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease exacerbations are associated with worsening of airway inflammation, the nature of which may be neutrophilic, eosinophilic, or both. OBJECTIVE: The primary objective was to examine the cellular nature of airway inflammation in successive COPD exacerbations in order to ascertain if they changed in individual patients. The secondary objective was to estimate the relative risk indicating the extent …