Independent Gateway to Understanding Type 2 Inflammation
In this descriptive study the association between severe asthma, biological therapy, and SARS-CoV-2 infection was investigated [1]. A higher risk for viral infections was described previously for asthmatic patients [2,3]. Because SARS-CoV-2 has demonstrated a predisposition to infect the upper and the lower respiratory tract, it may create a higher clinical issue for this patient group [4]. However, it should…
The concept of united airway diseases (UAD) includes allergic rhinitis (AR), chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), and asthma, all of which share common immune-pathogenic mechanisms [1-4]. Moreover, a systemic link between upper and lower airways exists by shared molecular and inflammatory mechanisms, including overproduction of type-2 cytokines in AR, CRS, and asthma [5,6], not limited to the target organs. There is a…
Busse WW, et al. Efficacy of dupilumab on clinical outcomes in patients with asthma and perennial allergic rhinitis [published online ahead of print, 2020 May 28]. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2020;S1081-1206(20)30389-6. In this post-hoc analysis of the phase 3 LIBERTY ASTHMA QUEST trial, the effect of dupilumab on comorbid perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR) was investigated. PAR is often associated with sensitisation…
Marks M, et al. Tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and receptors in type 1, type 2 and type 17 inflammation in cross-sectional asthma study. Thorax 2020;0:1–4. Epub Tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) has a potential role in allergic asthma [1,2]. TRAIL induces apoptosis in a variety of cells thereby resolving inflammation [1,3]. Conversely, TRAIL has been shown to…
Dr Liam Heaney is a professor of respiratory medicine at Queen’s University Belfast (UK) and a consultant physician at Belfast City Hospital. He leads the Medical Research Council Refractory Stratification Programme (RASP-UK) to transform clinical management of severe asthma, produce more personalised treatment approaches and investigate novel treatment strategies. Prof. Heaney also founded the British Thoracic Society Difficult Asthma Network…
In 2014, the first guidelines for the treatment of severe asthma in children and adults were composed by the European Respiratory Society/American Thoracic Society (ERS/ATS) [1]. Since 2017, a multidisciplinary Task Force of asthma experts, co-chaired by Dr Fernando Holguin and Dr Andy Bush, has worked on an updated version. The Task Force made 6 recommendations that were not addressed…
Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the sinonasal cavities [1-3]. It is frequently comorbid with asthma and both diseases share common underlying pathophysiological mechanisms driving the disease, including type 2 inflammation [3-9]. CRSwNP severely impacts quality of life and has a significant burden on society [10-12]. When symptoms are persistent or when there is…
Alving K, Diamant Z, Lucas S, et al. Point‐of‐care biomarkers in asthma management: Time to move forward Allergy. Allergy. 2020;75(4):995‐997. The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) report has directed clinical guidelines for asthma since 2014. Evidence comes from randomised controlled trials, but not from real-world or observational studies, which could be a limitation [1]. Asthma is a heterogeneous condition with…
In the past 15 years, striking progress has been made in our understanding of the mechanisms underlying chronic inflammatory airway disease as well as the predisposing and interfering factors. These insights have resulted in a more holistic and personalised approach to the diagnosis and management of chronic inflammatory airway diseases including their comorbidities. At the annual congress of the European…
In a pooled analysis of the SINUS-24 and SINUS-52 trials, dupilumab significantly improved both upper and lower airway outcomes compared with placebo in patients with severe chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps and comorbid asthma [1]. Dr Jorge Maspero (Fundación CIDEA, Argentina) presented the research in a late-breaking clinical trial session, pointing out that asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps…