Standardised methodology of sputum induction and processing
Research into the pathogenetic mechanisms and clinical monitoring of inammatory diseases of any system is complete only if it involves the study of both the underlying pathological features and the physio- logical consequences that result from what are always complex inammatory processes. Respiratory dis- eases, including those of the airways, are no exception in this respect. It is, therefore, not surprising that the development over the last 25 years of techniques enabling the study of inammatory processes in the airways has revolutionised understanding of the commonest pulmonary diseases, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Airways inammation is now an established feature and a central consideration of any treatment strategy for both of these conditions. Most of the initial observations made in asthma, documenting the involvement of eosinophils, mast cells, T-cells and more recently structural cells, ® broblasts, endothelial cells and epithelial cells, were made in studies using ® breoptic bronchoscopy in