Blood Eosinophil Count in Asthma Is Associated With Increased Abdominal Aortic Diameter and Increased Vascular Stiffness

Leonie Biener,* Andrea Budimovska,* Dirk Skowasch, Carmen Pizarro, Ben Christoph Frisch, Georg Nickenig, Max Jonathan Stumpf, Christian A Schaefer,* Nadjib Schahab* Department of Internal Medicine II - Cardiology, Pneumology and Angiology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Ge...

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Main Authors: Biener L, Budimovska A, Skowasch D, Pizarro C, Frisch BC, Nickenig G, Stumpf MJ, Schaefer CA, Schahab N
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2025-02-01
Series:Journal of Asthma and Allergy
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Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/blood-eosinophil-count-in-asthma-is-associated-with-increased-abdomina-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JAA
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author Biener L
Budimovska A
Skowasch D
Pizarro C
Frisch BC
Nickenig G
Stumpf MJ
Schaefer CA
Schahab N
author_facet Biener L
Budimovska A
Skowasch D
Pizarro C
Frisch BC
Nickenig G
Stumpf MJ
Schaefer CA
Schahab N
author_sort Biener L
collection DOAJ
description Leonie Biener,&ast; Andrea Budimovska,&ast; Dirk Skowasch, Carmen Pizarro, Ben Christoph Frisch, Georg Nickenig, Max Jonathan Stumpf, Christian A Schaefer,&ast; Nadjib Schahab&ast; Department of Internal Medicine II - Cardiology, Pneumology and Angiology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Leonie Biener, Department of Internal Medicine II - Cardiology, Pneumology and Angiology, University of Bonn, Venusberg Campus 1, Bonn, 53127, Germany, Email Leonie.Biener@ukbonn.deBackground: Asthma is associated with atherosclerosis and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). However, the underlying pathomechanisms remain elusive. Blood eosinophil count (BEC) is implicated in both eosinophilic asthma and arterial wall inflammation.Objective: To explore the possible association of BEC in asthma and abdominal aortic artery changes.Methods: 112 outpatients were prospectively enrolled in this exploratory study. Abdominal aortic diameter was measured using ultrasonography imaging, while vascular speckle tracking was utilized to evaluate vascular strains. Patients were stratified into two groups, with n=66 patients with a BEC of ≥ 300 n/μL and n=46 patients with < 300 n/μL. Both groups exhibited no significant disparities in cardiovascular risk factors; however, the high BEC group was more frequently male.Results: The aortic diameter was wider in patients with a BEC ≥ 300 n/μL (1.46 ± 0.25 cm vs 1.67 ± 0.63 cm, p=0.018). Three patients were diagnosed with an AAA, all had a BEC ≥ 300 n/μL. Patients with a BEC ≥ 300 n/μL exhibited lower strain values, indicative of higher vascular stiffness, including radial strain (2.65 ± 1.38% vs 4.46 ± 2.59%; p< 0.001). BEC exhibited a positive correlation with abdominal aortic diameter (R²=0.131, b=0.000, p< 0.001), and a negative correlation with radial strain values (R²=0.131, b=− 0.002, p=0.001) in sex-adjusted linear regression.Conclusion: In patients with asthma, blood eosinophil count (BEC) is correlated with a wider aortic diameter and heightened vascular stiffness in the abdominal aorta. Hence, they may be at an elevated risk of developing an AAA.Keywords: blood eosinophil count, asthma, abdominal aortic diameter, aneurysm, vascular stiffness
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spelling doaj-art-c066cedf74ea4686a25bd7ccc4dcd2072025-08-20T02:14:31ZengDove Medical PressJournal of Asthma and Allergy1178-69652025-02-01Volume 18245255100380Blood Eosinophil Count in Asthma Is Associated With Increased Abdominal Aortic Diameter and Increased Vascular StiffnessBiener LBudimovska ASkowasch DPizarro CFrisch BCNickenig GStumpf MJSchaefer CASchahab NLeonie Biener,&ast; Andrea Budimovska,&ast; Dirk Skowasch, Carmen Pizarro, Ben Christoph Frisch, Georg Nickenig, Max Jonathan Stumpf, Christian A Schaefer,&ast; Nadjib Schahab&ast; Department of Internal Medicine II - Cardiology, Pneumology and Angiology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Leonie Biener, Department of Internal Medicine II - Cardiology, Pneumology and Angiology, University of Bonn, Venusberg Campus 1, Bonn, 53127, Germany, Email Leonie.Biener@ukbonn.deBackground: Asthma is associated with atherosclerosis and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). However, the underlying pathomechanisms remain elusive. Blood eosinophil count (BEC) is implicated in both eosinophilic asthma and arterial wall inflammation.Objective: To explore the possible association of BEC in asthma and abdominal aortic artery changes.Methods: 112 outpatients were prospectively enrolled in this exploratory study. Abdominal aortic diameter was measured using ultrasonography imaging, while vascular speckle tracking was utilized to evaluate vascular strains. Patients were stratified into two groups, with n=66 patients with a BEC of ≥ 300 n/μL and n=46 patients with < 300 n/μL. Both groups exhibited no significant disparities in cardiovascular risk factors; however, the high BEC group was more frequently male.Results: The aortic diameter was wider in patients with a BEC ≥ 300 n/μL (1.46 ± 0.25 cm vs 1.67 ± 0.63 cm, p=0.018). Three patients were diagnosed with an AAA, all had a BEC ≥ 300 n/μL. Patients with a BEC ≥ 300 n/μL exhibited lower strain values, indicative of higher vascular stiffness, including radial strain (2.65 ± 1.38% vs 4.46 ± 2.59%; p< 0.001). BEC exhibited a positive correlation with abdominal aortic diameter (R²=0.131, b=0.000, p< 0.001), and a negative correlation with radial strain values (R²=0.131, b=− 0.002, p=0.001) in sex-adjusted linear regression.Conclusion: In patients with asthma, blood eosinophil count (BEC) is correlated with a wider aortic diameter and heightened vascular stiffness in the abdominal aorta. Hence, they may be at an elevated risk of developing an AAA.Keywords: blood eosinophil count, asthma, abdominal aortic diameter, aneurysm, vascular stiffnesshttps://www.dovepress.com/blood-eosinophil-count-in-asthma-is-associated-with-increased-abdomina-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JAAblood eosinophil countasthmaabdominal aortic diameteraneurysmvascular stiffness
spellingShingle Biener L
Budimovska A
Skowasch D
Pizarro C
Frisch BC
Nickenig G
Stumpf MJ
Schaefer CA
Schahab N
Blood Eosinophil Count in Asthma Is Associated With Increased Abdominal Aortic Diameter and Increased Vascular Stiffness
Journal of Asthma and Allergy
blood eosinophil count
asthma
abdominal aortic diameter
aneurysm
vascular stiffness
title Blood Eosinophil Count in Asthma Is Associated With Increased Abdominal Aortic Diameter and Increased Vascular Stiffness
title_full Blood Eosinophil Count in Asthma Is Associated With Increased Abdominal Aortic Diameter and Increased Vascular Stiffness
title_fullStr Blood Eosinophil Count in Asthma Is Associated With Increased Abdominal Aortic Diameter and Increased Vascular Stiffness
title_full_unstemmed Blood Eosinophil Count in Asthma Is Associated With Increased Abdominal Aortic Diameter and Increased Vascular Stiffness
title_short Blood Eosinophil Count in Asthma Is Associated With Increased Abdominal Aortic Diameter and Increased Vascular Stiffness
title_sort blood eosinophil count in asthma is associated with increased abdominal aortic diameter and increased vascular stiffness
topic blood eosinophil count
asthma
abdominal aortic diameter
aneurysm
vascular stiffness
url https://www.dovepress.com/blood-eosinophil-count-in-asthma-is-associated-with-increased-abdomina-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JAA
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