The Development of a Clinical Test to Assess the Inflammatory Phenotype of Asthma

The purpose of this study is to determine the type and degree of inflammatory parameters in peripheral blood of asthma patients compared to analysis of induced sputum. 115 asthma patients visiting the outpatient clinic of the University Medical Center will be included. Blood samples are obtained and sputum induction is performed. Hypothesis: in asthma the analysis of type and degree of inflammation in peripheral blood by changes in phenotypes of leukocytes is at least as reliable as analysis of cells obtained from induced sputum