To examine the clinicopathology of agglomerated bronchial epithelial cells, i.e. Creola body (CrB), in the sputum, the incidence of CrB stained by Papanicolaou's method was evaluated in 46 bronchial asthmatics and 10 patients with obstructive pulmonary diseases, and then was compared with the pathogenetic factors of bronchial asthma.
CrB was observed specifically in the sputum of bronchial asthmatics. CrB-positive cases had asthma attacks for more than 4 days and a high incidence of eosinophils in the sputum, but not CrB-negative cases. The presence of CrB in the sputum tended to be high in non-atopic asthmatics with a low serum IgE level, but had no significant correlation with either the incidence of neutrophils in the sputum, the present age of patients, the severity of the disease or bronchial hyperresponsiveness to acetylcholine.
These findings suggest that the involvement of histolesional factors such as persistent bronchial contraction and release of major basic protein from eosinophils in the airway may lead to the formation of CrB. Also the appearance of CrB may be a useful index for pre-serious stage of asthma.