Researchers from McMaster University and the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, together with colleagues at other partnering institutions, have developed a new method to treat severe asthma.
In a study of over 200 participants with severe asthma, the new treatment was shown to have improved asthma symptoms and lung function, while reducing the need for corticosteroids by up to 70%.
According to Statistics Canada, eight per cent of Canadians aged 12 or older – approximately 2.4 million people – have been diagnosed with asthma. Of that, approximately 25% are considered to be severe cases of asthma.
Current treatments for severe asthma often include high doses of corticosteroids, such as prednisone, to control exacerbations. Reducing the need for corticosteroids with alternative treatments is preferable, since these medications are associated with serious side effects from prolonged use – including multi-organ toxicities and immunosuppression.
Parameswaran Nair, professor of medicine at McMaster and staff respirologist at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, along with a team of researchers found that an antibody called dupilumab is effective in treating severe asthma in place of high doses of prednisone.
The results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine, one of the world’s most influential medical publications.
Researchers sought participants who had been using oral corticosteroids (prednisone) to treat severe asthma for at least six months prior to the study. In addition to their standard regimen of corticosteroids, patients received either dupilumab or a placebo during the 24 week trial. The corticosteroid dose was gradually reduced during weeks four to 20, and maintained at a low level for the final four weeks.
“The ability of dupilumab to increase lung function as markedly as it did in this study, even in the face of [corticosteroid] withdrawal, indicates that it appears to be inhibiting key drivers of lung inflammation,” the researchers noted.
Dupilumab works to treat asthma by blocking two specific proteins (called interleukin-4 and interleukin-13) that are associated with inflammation of the airways.
This technique was based on Nair’s previous research, (published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2009 and in 2017). Those studies found that blocking another protein, interleukin-5, allowed patients with high eosinophil levels in their blood and airways to reduce their corticosteroid dose. Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell involved with the production of interleukins. High eosinophil levels are directly linked to an increased risk of severe asthma.
Unlike the previous studies, dupilumab was shown to be effective regardless of patients’ eosinophil levels. Despite the reduced prednisone dose, patients in this study not only experienced a decrease in asthma exacerbations, but their lung function also improved significantly.
“Ultimately, our goal is to find new treatment pathways that allow us to circumvent the use of corticosteroids,” said Nair.
“Since dupilumab showed a significant improvement on asthma control regardless of eosinophil levels, we may be able to use this treatment for a wider range of patients than we previously thought possible. This might be due to the broad effects on inflammation in asthma of the two proteins that we were able to block with dupilumab. The treatment was not associated with any serious side effects.”
Learn more: Study Demonstrates New Treatment for Severe Asthma
The Latest on: Asthma
[google_news title=”” keyword=”asthma” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Asthma
- How to help your cat breathe easy with feline asthmaon April 27, 2024 at 1:00 am
Spring is often described as a time of renewal and beauty, with flowers blooming and trees budding. However, spring flowers and budding trees also cause higher pollen counts, and for those with asthma ...
- Complacency Leading To Thousands Of U.K. Asthma Deaths, Charity Sayson April 25, 2024 at 1:14 pm
The number of people dying from asthma in the U.K. is rising, with hundreds “needlessly” passing from the disease every year, a charity has warned. Around 12,000 people died of asthma in the country ...
- FDA approves asthma drug for treating food allergieson April 25, 2024 at 1:03 pm
A drug newly approved by the Food and Drug Administration to reduce the risk of allergic reactions from food could bring relief to millions across the nation.
- More Cases of Asthma, COPD, Hypertension After Military Burn Pit Exposureon April 25, 2024 at 12:51 pm
Veterans in the highest tertile of burn pit exposure (340 days or more) had a 10% higher odds of asthma, a 22% higher odds of COPD, and a 10% higher odds of hypertension when compared with those with ...
- Signs and Symptoms of an Asthma Attackon April 25, 2024 at 12:00 pm
An asthma attack can cause mild to severe symptoms. Coughing, wheezing, change in breathing patterns, and difficulty breathing are some common symptoms.
- Mother makes asthma plea following daughter's sudden deathon April 24, 2024 at 2:55 pm
The mother of a schoolgirl who died after an asthma attack has said sufferers should have regular checks to avoid "preventable" deaths like her daughter. Tracy Bulpitt's daughter Katy was 12-years-old ...
- New algorithm could provide early warning for asthma attackson April 24, 2024 at 11:45 am
A University of Texas at Dallas researcher and his international colleagues have developed an algorithm that might one day provide early medical alerts about the onset of asthma attacks or other ...
- Ask the Expert: Spring cleaning is crucial for children with allergies and asthmaon April 24, 2024 at 1:31 am
Spring cleaning helps remove allergens like dust, pollen, and mold that can trigger allergic reactions and asthma symptoms.
- Asthma: Action needed on needless deaths, says charityon April 23, 2024 at 5:18 pm
People with asthma should get an annual condition review, a written action plan and inhaler technique checks. But the charity said people with asthma were being "failed", with seven out of 10 not ...
via Bing News