Patients with persistent airway obstruction due to refractory asthma have neutrophil-dominant airway inflammation

Neutrophilic inflammation in refractory asthma may increase the likelihood of non-responsiveness to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). This Korean study recruited 77 patients with refractory asthma from a cohort of 2,300 asthmatics.

The group with persistent airway obstruction had a longer duration of asthma and a higher frequency of near-fatal asthma despite the higher doses of inhaled corticosteroids. Neutrophilic inflammation was predominant in the group with persistent airway obstruction (PAO). Eosinophilic inflammation was predominant in the non-PAO group.

The study authors concluded that patients with persistent airway obstruction due to refractory asthma have neutrophil-dominant airway inflammation. This may provide the rationale for developing new asthma medications for individualized therapy.

References:

Role of neutrophils in persistent airway obstruction due to refractory asthma. Choi JS, Jang AS, Park JS, Park SW, Paik SH, Park JS, Uh ST, Kim YH, Park CS.Respirology. 2011 Nov 1. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1843.2011.02097.x.

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