An investigation of airway acidification in asthma using induced sputum: a study of feasibility and correlation

Abstract

Rationale: Acidification of the airways seems to be involved in asthma pathophysiology, but its assessment might be difficult.

Objectives: The aim of our study is to assess the feasibility and validity of airway acidification measurement by induced sputum and its clinical significance in asthma.

Methods: Induced-sputum samples were obtained in 57 outpatients with asthma. The between-sample repeatability after 48 hours was measured in an independent population of 14 patients with asthma. pH was measured using a pH meter. The control of asthma was established by the Asthma Control Questionnaire.

Measurements and main results: The pH measurement was feasible in all samples and repeatable both within (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC], 0.96) and between samples (ICC, 0.621). The mean pH was significantly different between healthy subjects and patients with asthma, including in those with controlled (mean pH: 7.54 in healthy subjects vs. 7.28 in subjects with controlled asthma; p = 0.0105) and uncontrolled disease (mean pH: 7.54 in healthy subjects vs. 7.06 in subjects with uncontrolled disease; p < 0.0001), and between patients with stable asthma and those with poorly controlled asthma (7.28 vs. 7.06, respectively; p = 0.0134). The validity of the method was assessed with the receiver operating characteristic curves and induced-sputum lower pH values (with a cutoff value of 7.3; sensitivity, 72.1%; specificity, 100%).

Conclusions: Patients with asthma show lower pH than healthy subjects. Patients with poorly controlled asthma seem to have the lowest induced-sputum pH, independent of the GINA (Global Initiative for Asthma) severity level. In conclusion, induced sputum is a feasible, repeatable, noninvasive method to measure airway pH. The pH in induced sputum may reflect a different aspect of asthma from sputum eosinophils and be related to different pathophysiologic factors.