BLOOD EOSINOPHIL COUNT AS RISK FACTOR FOR RELAPSE IN ACUTE ASTHMA

In this retrospective investigation comprising 54 adult patients included in two studies of the treatment of acuteasthma, the risk of relapse was studied. The set of variables that best predicted the length of time before a new asthmatic attack comprised blood eosinophil count (P < 0.001), FEV1 on arrival (P < 0.001) and increased medication on discharge (P < 0.01). The set of variables that best predicted the number of new attacks during a period of 1 yr consisted of eosinophil count (P < 0.001), FEV1 (P < 0.001), increased medication on discharge, age and breathing rate on arrival (P < 0.05). Patients with an eosinophil count of more than 500 × 1061− and a FEV1 of less the 1.01 ran a six-fold greater risk of returning with a new attack within 1 month than patients with lower eosinophil count and higher FEV1. No significant correlation was found between post-treatment PEF variation and relapse in acute asthma. © 1992, Baillière Tindall All rights reserved. All rights reserved.