Katoh S, et al. - Among 60 asthmatics, including 30 atopic-asthma and 30 non-atopic asthma, and 30 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, researchers evaluated biomarkers to distinguish between asthma and COPD. For this investigation, they analyzed blood eosinophil counts and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) levels. Compared to COPD patients, significantly higher peripheral blood eosinophil counts, FeNO levels and total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) concentrations, but not serum periostin or serum interleukin-25 (IL-25) concentrations, have been detected in patients with asthma. For distinguishing between patients with asthma and COPD, FeNO levels and peripheral blood eosinophil counts were useful biomarkers. The study findings suggested that serum periostin and IgE concentrations could be atopic asthma biomarkers.