Images in allergy and immunology: Role of eosinophils in airway remodelingJACI, Volume 119, Issue 6, Pages 1563-1566 (June 2007)
Eosinophil-mediated inflammation is the hallmark of allergic disease. Eosinophils cause damage of the airway mucosa and associated nerves in asthma.
Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) may prevent or reverse airway remodeling by inhibiting the eosinophilic airway inflammation in chronic allergic asthma.
Ciclesonide is a new ICS which seems to have no significant effect on growth and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. It is marketed internationally under the name of Alvesco but is not approved for treatment of asthma in the U.S. yet. The once-daily ciclesonide appears as effective as other ICS but has a much better safety profile.
Update 01/25/2008:
On January 10, The FDA approved ciclesonide inhalation aerosol (Alvesco, 80 and 160 µg/actuation BID; Nycomed, Inc) for prophylactic therapy of asthma in patients aged 12 years and older.
References:
FDA Approvals: Alvesco and Tysabri. Medscape, 01/2008.
References:
Ciclesonide: An Expert Interview With David I. Bernstein, MD, Medscape Pulmonary Medicine, 2005.
Eosinophilic disorders. Current reviews of allergy and clinical immunology/Series. JACI, Volume 119, Issue 6, Pages 1291-1300 (June 2007).
Images source: Wikipedia, a free GNU license and public domain.
Updated: 01/25/2008