CC chemokines and interleukin-5 in bronchial lavage fluid from patients with status asthmaticus. Potential implication in eosinophil recruitment.

In status asthmaticus (SA), severe bronchial inflammation is associated with acute respiratory failure. Neutrophils are the prominent cells found in bronchi from SA patients, but eosinophils are also recruited within the first 48 h after the beginning of mechanical ventilation (MV). Interleukin (IL)-5 and CC chemokines have been directly implicated in the pathophysiology of allergic asthma.