Abstract

Background: chronic cough (CC) relates to poor quality of life, biomarkers could help in identifying potential treatments Aim: to assess if Th2-inflammation markers - IgE serum levels and blood eosinophil count (EOS) > 150/mcl - are increased in CC patients consecutively admitted to a dedicated outpatient clinic Methods: retrospective analysis of clinical records to investigate biomarkers and comorbidities. Inclusion criteria were age>18, no antitussive treatment for at least 4 weeks, non-smoking (for at least 1 year) and normal chest xray Exclusion criteria: ACE inhibitor therapy, use of oral steroids, interstitial lung diseases, malignant diseases, TB or nonTB active infections. Patients with Chronic inflammatory airways disease were admitted to the CC clinic only after maximalization of ICS according to asthma, CRwNP and COPD guidelines. Unpaired t-student test for continuous variables and the chi-square test (?2) for descriptive variables. A p-value of <0.05 was considered to be significant. Results: 458 patients were included, 152 (33.1%) with EOS > 150/mcl, 269 (59%) Female median age of 61 (range 18?93). Concomitant diagnosis were asthma (52%), GERD (36%), rhinosinusitis (25%), COPD (15%), bronchiectasis (15%) and diabetes (7%). Patients with Eos > 150 cells/mcL showed also statistically increased levels of serum IgE (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Th2 inflammation is a potential treatable trait in one third of patients with CC and upper/lower airways inflammation. Increased ICS therapy or monoclonal antibodies may represent an option to address Chronic Cough in selected patients.