Eosinophils in Lung Biopsies and Acute Lung Injury Survival
Author Information
Author(s): Lian Willetts, Kimberly Parker, Lewis J Wesselius, Cheryl A Protheroe, Elizabeth Jaben, Graziano P, Redwan Moqbel, Kevin O Leslie, Nancy A Lee, James J Lee
Primary Institution: Mayo Clinic Arizona
Hypothesis
Occult eosinophilic pneumonia may explain better outcomes for some patients with acute lung injury.
Conclusion
The study found that eosinophil accumulation in lung biopsies is a prognostic indicator of survival in acute lung injury patients.
Supporting Evidence
- Eosinophil counts were significantly higher in ALI patients compared to controls.
- Higher eosinophil counts correlated with survival in ALI patients.
- EPX-mAb immunohistochemistry provided over 40-fold increased sensitivity for eosinophil detection.
Takeaway
Doctors found that looking for special cells called eosinophils in lung samples can help predict if patients with lung injuries will get better.
Methodology
The study used immunohistochemistry with a monoclonal antibody to assess eosinophil presence in lung biopsies from patients with acute lung injury.
Potential Biases
The study was subject to biases due to the retrospective nature and the lack of a standardized treatment plan.
Limitations
The study had a small and heterogeneous patient cohort and lacked control over patient demographics and treatment timing.
Participant Demographics
The average age of ALI patients was 64 years, with 11 males and 9 females.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.01
Confidence Interval
95% confidence interval: 0.540 to 0.908
Statistical Significance
p<0.01
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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