Asthma management, focused on the use of oral corticosteroids: the opinions of Italian asthmatic patients.

OBJECTIVE: Patients' perceptions of asthma symptoms, and attitudes regarding diagnosis and management, can affect their ability to reach good asthma control. The aim of the study was to explore patients' perceptions of asthma management, with focus on treatment with oral corticosteroids (OCS). METHODS: A DOXAPHARMA survey was conducted. A questionnaire with 46 multiple choice questions was completed by 50 patients with severe uncontrolled asthma, and 258 with mild-moderate controlled or partly controlled asthma. Participants were representative of Italian asthmatic patients-with medium age, long asthma duration, delayed diagnosis, poor asthma control, and frequent exacerbations. RESULTS: Many asthmatics reported inadequate pharmacologic treatment. The majority but not all patients regularly used ICS/LABA. Oral treatment was common, mainly with OCS, particularly in severe asthmatics. One-fourth of patients did not regularly use inhaled therapy, and adherence was poor, resulting in frequent OCS use to treat exacerbations, which were common in mild-moderate cases. Patients were fairly satisfied with asthma therapies, but many had concerns about long-term corticosteroid use. Patients complained about poor management of comorbidities associated with asthma and OCS use, but were generally satisfied with their patient/doctor relationships. Many patients failed to achieve optimal health-related quality of life (HRQoL), mainly those with severe asthma who used OCS treatment and emphasized how OCS therapy impacted QoL. CONCLUSIONS: The survey results confirmed many problems related to mild-moderate and severe asthma management in Italy and highlighted the overuse of OCS rather than more effective and safe treatments, which had strong negative effects on HRQoL.

Component-Resolved Diagnosis for Endotyping Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps.

BACKGROUND: Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is a predominantly type 2 inflammation-mediated disease of the nasal mucosa and paranasal sinuses that often coexists with asthma. The role of atopy in the development and severity of CRSwNP is still a controversial issue. OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to propose a systematic allergy workup to identify atopic patients in the context of CRSwNP and to characterize their allergen sensitization profile (sources/molecules). METHODS: Patients with a diagnosis of CRSwNP (n = 97) were studied in the otorhinolaryngologist and allergy settings. Demographic and clinical data were collected for each patient. Different allergen sensitization profiles (sources/molecules) were evaluated in atopic CRSwNP patients by using component-resolved diagnosis (CRD). RESULTS: In our cohort of patients, the CRSwNP was frequently diagnosed during adulthood with significant impact on health-related quality of life. Asthma and atopy were the most common comorbidities with a prevalence of asthma in the atopic group. In CRSwNP patients sensitized to grass pollens and/or to house dust mites, the CRD analysis revealed a prevalence of sensitization to species-specific allergens of Phleum pratense (Phl p1, Phl p2, and Phl p5) or Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p1 and Der p2) rather than to cross-reactive ones. CONCLUSION: To define the allergen sensitization profile in atopic CRSwNP patients by CRD, it may be useful to better characterize type 2 inflammation, thus providing a personalized endotype-driven treatment.

Mepolizumab Effectiveness and Allergic Status in Real Life.

BACKGROUND: It is not clear whether mepolizumab is differently effective in allergic and nonallergic severe eosinophilic asthmatics (SEA) in real life. OBJECTIVE: We tested mepolizumab effectiveness in allergic/nonallergic SEA in real life. A strict criterion to identify the 2 phenotypes was used. METHOD: We retrospectively considered 134 consecutive patients divided into allergic, with a positivity to at least 1 allergen to prick tests and/or IgE values ≥100 UI/mL (severe allergic eosinophilic asthma [SAEA]; n: 97-72.4%), and nonallergic, with no prick test results and normal IgE levels <100 UI/mL (severe nonallergic eosinophilic asthma [SNAEA]; n: 37-27.6%). They had taken mepolizumab for at least 6 months. RESULTS: After 10.9 ± 3.7 months, improvements in FEV1%, FEF25-75%, exacerbation numbers, blood eosinophil (BE) counts, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) (ppb), percentages of patients that stopped/reduced short-acting ß2-agonists (SABAs) or oral corticosteroid (OC), observed after treatment, were similar in both groups. Only Asthma Control Test (ACT) increases were higher in SNAEA (8 [5-9]) than in SAEA (5 [2.5-8.5]; p = 0.016). However, no differences were found after treatment in percentages of subjects with ACT ≥20, as well as with FEV1 >80%, FEF25-75 >65%, exacerbations ≤2, BE <300 cells/µL, and FENO <25 ppb between SAEA and SNAEA. Besides, no significant relationships were found, comparing SNAEA with SAEA, for FEV1% (ß = -0.110; p = 0.266), FEF25-75% (ß = -0.228; p = 0.06), BE counts (ß = -0.012; p = 0.918), FENO (ß = 0.234; p = 0.085), ACT (ß = 0.046; p = 0.660), and exacerbations (ß = -0.070; p = 0.437). No different associations between lung function and SNAEA occurrence when compared to SAEA condition (FEV1 >80%: OR = 1.04 [95% CI: 0.43-2.55], p = 0.923; FEF25-75 >65%: OR = 0.41 [95% CI: 0.08-2.03], p = 0.272) were detected. Neither all other parameters, such as ACT >20 (OR = 0.73 [95% CI: 0.32-1.63], p = 0.440), presence of exacerbations (OR = 1.35 [95% CI: 0.55-3.27], p = 0.512), SABA discontinuation (OR = 1.16 [95% CI: 0.40-3.39], p = 0.790), and OC cessation/reduction (OR = 3.44 [95% CI: 0.40-29.27], p = 0.258), were differently associated with 1 or the other phenotype. CONCLUSION: Mepolizumab can be considered as a valid therapeutic choice for either allergic or nonallergic SEA in real life.

Mepolizumab effectiveness on small airway obstruction, corticosteroid sparing and maintenance therapy step-down in real life.

BACKGROUND: Mepolizumab (MEP) has been recently introduced to treat severe eosinophilic asthma. Trials have demonstrated a significant effectiveness in this asthma phenotype. We evaluated MEP efficacy on lung function, symptoms, asthma exacerbations, biologic markers, steroid dependence and controller treatment level in real-life. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 134 severe asthmatics (61 males; mean age 58.3 ± 11; mean FEV1%:72 ± 21), treated with MEP for at least 6 months (mean duration:10.9 ± 3.7 months). RESULTS: FEV1% improved significantly after MEP. Mean FEF25-75 also increased from 37.4 ± 25.4% to 47.2 ± 27.2% (p < 0.0001). Mean baseline blood eosinophil level was 712 ± 731/µL (8.4 ± 5.2%) decreasing to 151 ± 384/µL (1.6 ± 1.6%) (p < 0.0001), FENO levels decreased likewise. MEP treatment also led to a significant ACT improvement (mean pre:14.2 ± 4.4; mean post:20.5 ± 28) and exacerbations significantly fell from 3.8 ± 1.9 to 0.8 ± 1.1 (p < 0.0001). 74% of patients were steroid-dependent before MEP. 45.4% and 46.4% of them showed a suspension and dose reduction respectively (p < 0.0001). A significant number reduced also ICS doses. Only 67% of subjects used SABA as needed before MEP, falling to 20% after MEP. About 40% of patients highlighted a maintenance therapy step-down. Subjects showing an omalizumab treatment failure before MEP had a similar positive response when compared with omalizumab untreated patients. CONCLUSION: In real-life, MEP improved significantly all outcomes even small airway obstruction, suggesting its possible role also in distal lung region treatment. Furthermore, it demonstrated its high effectiveness in OC/ICS-sparing, in reducing SABA as needed and in stepping-down maintenance therapy. MEP is a valid alternative for patients with previous omalizumab treatment failure.

Focus on the Involvement of the Nose and Paranasal Sinuses in Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss Syndrome): Nasal Cytology Reveals Infiltration of Eosinophils as a Very Common Feature.

BACKGROUND: Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is a necrotizing vasculitis that predominantly affects small- to medium-sized vessels. It is characterized by a wide spectrum of extrapulmonary symptoms, including sinonasal and paranasal sinus abnormalities. These are the most common features of this disease, constituting diagnostic criteria for EGPA. However, the actual clinical features, cellular mechanisms and impact on patients' quality of life (QoL) are still a matter of study. METHODS: Thirty-nine EGPA patients underwent multidimensional rhinological evaluations, including rhinofibroscopy, nasal cytology, and QoL questionnaires. This was coupled with respiratory and rheumatological assessments. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients were diagnosed with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Of these, 18 had nasal polyposis (NP). Chronic rhinitis was diagnosed in 10 patients. Of these, 3 had allergic rhinitis (AR) and seven had non-AR (NAR). Overall, only 1 patient (2.6%) was normal. Nasal cytology showed that hypereosinophilia was present in 17/28 patients with CRS, 4/7 patients with NAR and all patients with AR. SNOT-22 and SF-36 showed a severe impact of nasal symptoms on QoL. No differences in asthma control or rheumatological patterns for EGPA were observed among patients with or without NP. CONCLUSIONS: Even when the rheumatological assessment scored EGPA "under control" according to the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score and Vasculitis Damage Index, sinonasal diseases and related nasal inflammatory processes were not controlled. Therefore, there is a need for clinical monitoring and targeted treatment to control the inflammatory processes and improve the QoL of EGPA patients.

Comorbidities are associated with different features of severe asthma.

BACKGROUND: According to ATS/ERS document on severe asthma (SA), the management of these patients requires the identification and proper treatment of comorbidities, which can influence the control of asthma. METHODS: The aim of this study was to assess the independent effect of different comorbidities on clinical, functional and biologic features of SA. Seventy-two patients with SA according to GINA guidelines were examined. We collected demographic data, smoking habit, asthma history, and assessment of comorbidities. Pulmonary function, inflammatory biomarkers, upper airway disease evaluation, asthma control and quality of life were carefully assessed. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 59.1 years (65.3% female, 5.6% current smokers). Comorbidities with higher prevalence were: chronic rhinosinusitis with or without nasal polyps (CRSwNP or CRSsNP), obesity and gastro-esophageal reflux (GERD), with some overlapping among them. In an univariate analysis comparing patients with single comorbidities with the other ones, asthmatics with CRSwNP had lower lung function and higher sputum eosinophilia; obese asthmatics had worse asthma control and quality of life, and tended to have lower sputum eosinophils; asthmatics with GERD showed worse quality of life. In multivariate analysis, obesity was the only independent factor associated with poor asthma control (OR 4.9), while CRSwNP was the only independent factor associated with airway eosinophilia (OR 16.2). Lower lung function was associated with the male gender and longer duration of asthma (OR 3.9 and 5.1, respectively) and showed a trend for the association with nasal polyps (OR 2.9, p = 0.06). CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that coexisting comorbidities are associated with different features of SA.

Nasal Cytology: A Comparative Study of Two Different Techniques of Processing-Smeared versus Cytocentrifuged Slides.

Nasal cytology is a precious tool to study nasal disorders, but in current literature, there is no consensus on the standardization of the processing procedure of the obtained samples. Therefore, we decided to test on specimens obtained by nasal scraping, a common way of nasal specimen sampling, two different processing techniques, smear and cytocentrifugation, and compare them in terms of inflammatory cell content, quality of slides, and validity on clinical assessment. We analyzed 105 patients with suspected sinonasal diseases, and in each patient, we performed nasal cytology with both techniques. Our analysis showed a good correlation between the two techniques for neutrophil and eosinophil percentages, both returned well-preserved cells, and showed higher neutrophil percentage in males and in smokers and higher eosinophil percentage in patients with polyposis, with a good concordance with clinical symptoms, as measured by a specific disease-related questionnaire (Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22). Technically speaking, smeared slides were easier to prepare, with no need of dedicated equipment, but cell distribution was better in cytocentrifuged slides allowing shorter reading time. In conclusion, both techniques can be considered superimposable and worthy to be used.

Inhalation therapy in the next decade: Determinants of adherence to treatment in asthma and COPD.

Proceedings of the European Seminars in Respiratory Medicine course, Inhalation therapy in the next decade: Determinants of adherence to treatment in asthma and COPD, held in Taormina, Italy, on 3-4 March, 2017.

Can the response to Omalizumab be influenced by treatment duration? A real-life study.

OBJECTIVE: It is unknown whether Omalizumab effectiveness changes over the course of time. Our retrospective real-life study tried to analyze whether Omalizumab response may be influenced by treatment duration. METHODS: 340 severe asthmatics treated with Omalizumab for different periods of time were recruited. They were subdivided into 4 groups according to the Omalizumab treatment length: <12, between 12 and 24, between 24 and 60 and >60 months. Omalizumab treatment results (FEV1, exacerbations, ACT, SABA use, asthma control levels, medications used e and ICS doses) were compared. RESULTS: ACT, exacerbations, GINA control levels, ICS doses and SABA use were similar in all groups with different Omalizumab treatment durations. Using a linear regression model, corrected for all confounding variables, a higher significant positive increase in FEV1% in subjects treated for 12-24 (ß = 9.49; p = 0.034) or 24-60 months (ß = 8.56; p = 0.043) was found when compared with subjects treated for a shorter period. Treatment duration was positively associated with a step down of the other associated therapies (OR: 1.013; p = 0.019). This association was more relevant (OR: 4.167; p = 0.005) when we considered Omalizumab treatment duration >60 months compared to the shorter therapy. In particular, the percentage of subjects that were taking Montelukast, LABAs and oral corticosteroids was lower in the group treated with Omalizumab for a longer period of time. CONCLUSION: In real-life, the positive Omalizumab response remained stable for over 60 months. Long term Omalizumab treatment may lead to a discontinuation of some associated medications and to a slowing down of FEV1 decline.

Asthma management in a specialist setting: Results of an Italian Respiratory Society survey.

BACKGROUND: Asthma considerably impairs patients' quality of life and increases healthcare costs. Severity, morbidity, and degree of disease control are the major drivers of its clinical and economic impact. National scientific societies are required to monitor the application of international guidelines and to adopt strategies to improve disease control and better allocate resources. AIM: to provide a detailed picture of the characteristics of asthma patients and modalities of asthma management by specialists in Italy and to develop recommendations for the daily management of asthma in a specialist setting. METHOD: A quantitative research program was implemented. Data were collected using an ad hoc questionnaire developed by a group of specialists selected by the Italian Pneumology Society/Italian Respiratory Society. RESULTS: The records of 557 patients were analyzed. In the next few years, specialists are expected to focus their activity patients with more severe disease and will be responsible for selection of patients for personalized biological therapy; however, only 20% of patients attending Italian specialist surgery can be considered severe. In 84.4% of cases, the visit was a follow-up visit requested in 82.2% of cases by the specialist him/herself. The Asthma Control Test is used only in 65% of patients. When available, a significant association has been observed between the test score and asthma control as judged by the physician, although concordance was only moderate (κ = 0.68). Asthma was considered uncontrolled by the specialist managing the case in 29.1% of patients; nevertheless, treatment was not stepped up in uncontrolled or partly controlled patients (modified in only 37.2% of patients). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this survey support re-evaluation of asthma management by Italian specialists. More resources should be made available for the initial visit and for more severely ill patients. In addition, more extensive use should be made of validated tools, and available drugs should be used more appropriately.

High strength extrafine pMDI beclometasone/formoterol (200/6 µg) is effective in asthma patients not adequately controlled on medium-high dose of inhaled corticosteroids.

BACKGROUND: A high strength of beclomethasone/formoterol fumarate (BDP/FF) in a pressurised metered dose inhaler (pMDI), which contains extrafine BDP (200 µg/actuation) and FF (6 µg/actuation) has been developed to treat those asthmatics who are not adequately controlled on previous treatments. METHODS: A 12-week, randomized, double-blind, parallel group study was performed to compare the efficacy and safety of pMDI BDP/FF 200/6 (two actuations bid) with BDP 100 µg (four actuation bid) in a population of 376 randomized adult asthmatics not adequately controlled with high dose of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) or medium dose of ICS plus long acting ß2agonists (LABA). RESULTS: The primary endpoint [change from baseline over the entire treatment period in average pre-dose morning peak expiratory flow (PEF)] demonstrated the superiority of BDP/FF over BDP monotherapy, with an adjusted mean difference of 19 L/min, which is above the minimal important clinical difference reported for this parameter. Overall, BDP/FF and BDP showed a similar improvement of symptom-based parameters and of the use of rescue medication after 3-month treatment. The safety profile of the two drugs was comparable, although BDP monotherapy, but not BDP/FF, slightly reduced the levels of serum cortisol. CONCLUSIONS: The study proved that pMDI BDP/FF 200/6 µg was superior to BDP alone in improving lung function with comparable safety profiles. Therefore it may be considered as an effective treatment for adults with asthma not adequately controlled with high dose of ICS monotherapy or medium dose of ICS/LABA combinations. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01577082 , date 06/04/2012.

Can Sputum Eosinophilia Be a Constant Feature in Severe Refractory Asthmatics? A 3-Year Longitudinal Study.

In difficult-to-treat asthmatics, uncontrolled despite a high level of therapy and followed for 3 years with a mean number of sputum samples/patient = 10, sputum eosinophilia (≥3%) was observed in 87% of all sputum samples. Persistent sputum eosinophilia is a characteristic of severe uncontrolled asthma.

Asthma control in severe asthmatics under treatment with omalizumab: a cross-sectional observational study in Italy.

Few data are available on the proportion of asthmatics achieving a good asthma control (according GINA guidelines) and on the level of airway inflammation during omalizumab treatment. The aim of this cross-sectional national observational study was to assess the level of control (according to GINA guidelines) achieved in a group of asthmatics on omalizumab treatment, and to characterize the factors that influence the lack of control. We studied 306 asthmatics under omalizumab treatment for a median of 32 months (range 4-120). The level of control according to GINA was good in 25.2%, partial in 47.1% and poor in 24.5% of patients (data were missing for the remaining 3.2%). Comparison between poorly controlled and partially or well controlled asthmatics showed a statistically significant higher prevalence of some comorbidities in the first group, namely obesity, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), aspirin intolerance and mental disorders (all p < 0.001). Similarly, asthmatics with at least one exacerbation in the last year showed a significantly higher prevalence of obesity, chronic rhinosinusitis, nasal polyps, GORD, and aspirin intolerance (all p < 0.05) than patients without exacerbations. When we selected patients without relevant comorbidities (upper airways disease, GORD, obesity, aspirin intolerance) and not currently smoking (N = 73), the percentage of well or partially controlled asthmatics was significantly higher than in patients with comorbidities (84.9% vs 71.1%, p = 0.02); the rate of asthmatics without exacerbations in the last year was also higher (73.6% vs 51.1%, p = 0.001). During omalizumab treatment, a high percentage of asthmatics obtain a good or partial control of asthma. Comorbidities are associated with the lack of asthma control and persistence of exacerbations.

Neutrophilic Bronchial Inflammation Correlates with Clinical and Functional Findings in Patients with Noncystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis.

Background. Neutrophilic bronchial inflammation is a main feature of bronchiectasis, but not much is known about its relationship with other disease features. Aim. To compare airway inflammatory markers with clinical and functional findings in subjects with stable noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB). Methods. 152 NFCB patients (62.6 years; females: 57.2%) underwent clinical and functional cross-sectional evaluation, including microbiologic and inflammatory cell profile in sputum, and exhaled breath condensate malondialdehyde (EBC-MDA). NFCB severity was assessed using BSI and FACED criteria. Results. Sputum neutrophil percentages inversely correlated with FEV1 (P < 0.0001; rho = -0.428), weakly with Leicester Cough Questionnaire score (P = 0.068; rho = -0.58), and directly with duration of the disease (P = 0.004; rho = 0.3) and BSI severity score (P = 0.005; rho = 0.37), but not with FACED. Sputum neutrophilia was higher in colonized subjects, P. aeruginosa colonized subjects showing greater sputum neutrophilia and lower FEV1. Patients with ≥3 exacerbations in the last year showed a significantly greater EBC-MDA than the remaining patients. Conclusions. Sputum neutrophilic inflammation and biomarkers of oxidative stress in EBC can be considered good biomarkers of disease severity in NCFB patients, as confirmed by pulmonary function, disease duration, bacterial colonization, BSI score, and exacerbation rate.

Unlocking the Long-Term Effectiveness of Benralizumab in Severe Eosinophilic Asthma: A Three-Year Real-Life Study.

Background: Benralizumab has been shown to restore good control of severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA). Robust data on benralizumab effectiveness over periods longer than 2 years are scarce. Methods: This retrospective multicentric study was conducted on 108 Italian SEA patients treated with benralizumab for up to 36 months. Partial and complete clinical remission (CR) were assessed. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics or using linear, logistic, and negative binomial mixed-effect regression models. Results: At 36 months, benralizumab reduced the exacerbation rate by 89% and increased the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) (+440 mL at 36 months, p < 0.0001). Benralizumab improved asthma control as well as sinonasal symptoms in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP). Up to 93.33% of patients either reduced or discontinued OCS; benralizumab also decreased ICS use and other asthma medications. Overall, 84.31% of patients achieved partial or complete CR. Conclusions: Benralizumab improved asthma and sinonasal outcomes up to 36 months. These findings support the potential of benralizumab to induce CR, emphasizing its role as a disease-modifying anti-asthmatic drug for the management of SEA. Further research is warranted to expand these findings by minimizing data loss and assessing benralizumab's long-term safety.

Symptom versus exacerbation control: an evolution in GINA guidelines?

The article traces the concept of asthma control within GINA guidelines over the past 25 years. In the first 15 years after 1995, the main objective of asthma management was to obtain the control of all clinical and functional characteristics of asthma. A landmark study (GOAL) showed for the first time that a good control of asthma is a reasonable outcome that can be achieved in a large proportion of asthmatics with a regular appropriate treatment. In the following years, more emphasis was placed on the role of exacerbations as critical manifestations of poor asthma control, whose frequency is associated with excessive FEV1 decline and increased risk of death. Accordingly, the 2014 GINA report makes a clear distinction between the control of the day-by-day symptoms and the reduction in the risk of severe exacerbations, stating that both conditions should be obtained. The 2019 update included a significant change in the management of mild asthma, prioritizing the prevention of exacerbations to that of mild symptoms. This view was repeated in the 2021 update, where the prevention of exacerbations, together with an acceptable symptom control with a minimal use of rescue medication, appeared to be the real main goal of asthma management. While a discrepancy between current symptoms and exacerbations may be present in mild asthma, a significant relationship between these two features is observed in moderate-severe asthma: a persistent poor symptom control is a major risk factor for exacerbations, whereas achieving symptom control through regular treatment is associated with a reduction in exacerbation rate. Thus, the opinion that frequent symptoms are not important in the absence of acute exacerbations should be discouraged, whereas education of patients to a good symptom perception and to improve adherence to regular treatment should be implemented. Furthermore, the persistence of risk factors, such as increased airway inflammation, even in a patient with minor daily symptoms, should be considered for optimizing treatment.

Severe Asthma Network Italy Definition of Clinical Remission in Severe Asthma: A Delphi Consensus.

Severe asthma affects about 10% of the population with asthma and is characterized by low lung function and a high count of blood leukocytes, mainly eosinophils. Various definitions are used in clinical practice and in the literature to identify asthma remission: clinical remission, inflammatory remission, and complete remission. This work highlights a consensus for asthma remission using a Delphi method. In the context of the Severe Asthma Network Italy, which accounts for 57 severe asthma centers and more than 2,200 patients, a board of six experts drafted a list of candidate statements in a questionnaire, which has been revised to minimize redundancies and ensure clear and consistent wording for the first round (R1) of the analysis. Thirty-two statements were included in the R1 questionnaire and then submitted to a panel of 80 experts, which used a 5-point Likert scale to measure agreement regarding each statement. Then, an interim analysis of R1 data was performed, and items were discussed and considered to produce a consistent questionnaire for round 2 (R2) of the analysis. Then, the board set the R2 questionnaire, which included only important topics. Panelists were asked to vote on the statements in the R2 questionnaire afterward. During R2, the criteria of complete clinical remission (the absence of the need for oral corticosteroids, symptoms, exacerbations or attacks, and pulmonary function stability) and those of partial clinical remission (the absence of the need for oral corticosteroids, and two of three criteria: the absence of symptoms, exacerbations or attacks, and pulmonary stability) were confirmed. This Severe Asthma Network Italy Delphi analysis defined a valuable and independent tool that is easy to use, to test the efficacy of different treatments in patients with severe asthma enrolled into the SANI registry.

Transient sputum eosinophilia may occur over time in non-eosinophilic asthma and this is not prevented by salmeterol.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Symptomatic, steroid-naïve asthmatic patients may have low sputum eosinophil numbers. The aim of the study was to determine whether low sputum eosinophil numbers persisted over time, during treatment with salmeterol monotherapy. METHODS: Forty steroid-naïve, symptomatic asthmatic patients, with sputum eosinophils <3%, were randomized to receive open-label salmeterol (50 µg twice a day, n = 30) or fluticasone (125 µg twice a day, n = 10) and were then assessed at 1, 3 and 6 months. All patients underwent spirometry, a methacholine challenge test and sputum induction at each visit. Symptom scores and peak expiratory flow were recorded throughout the study. Patients were permitted to withdraw from the study at any time, if they experienced exacerbations or deterioration of symptoms. RESULTS: The average sputum eosinophil percentage remained normal (≤1.9%) in both groups over the study period. The eosinophil percentages were ≤1.9% in 65 of the 80 samples obtained from salmeterol-treated patients throughout the study period. Eight patients had an asthma exacerbation or deterioration, during which one developed sputum eosinophilia. Twelve patients, 11 of whom were randomized to salmeterol and one to fluticasone, developed transient sputum eosinophilia at least once during the study. This was not associated with asthma exacerbation (except for one patient). Sputum neutrophil percentage did not change in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Low sputum eosinophil numbers persisted over 6 months in a majority of patients with non-eosinophilic asthma who received salmeterol monotherapy. However, transient sputum eosinophilia occurred in 40% indicating that non-eosinophilic asthma may not be a stable phenotype.

Personalized Management of Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps in Clinical Practice: A Multidisciplinary Consensus Statement.

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a sino-nasal chronic inflammatory disease, occurring in 5-15% of the general population. CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is present in up to 30% of the CRS population. One-third of CRSwNP patients suffer from disease that is uncontrolled by current standards of care. Biologics are an emerging treatment option for patients with severe uncontrolled CRSwNP, but their positioning in the treatment algorithm is under discussion. Effective endotyping of CRSwNP patients who could benefit from biologics treatment is required, as suggested by international guidelines. Other issues affecting management include comorbidities, such as allergy, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-exacerbated respiratory disease, and asthma. Therefore, the choice of treatment in CRSwNP patients depends on many factors. A multidisciplinary approach may improve CRSwNP management in patients with comorbidities, but currently there is no shared management model. We summarize the outcomes of a Delphi process involving a multidisciplinary panel of otolaryngologists, pulmonologists, and allergist-immunologists involved in the management of CRSwNP, who attempted to reach consensus on key statements relating to the diagnosis, endotyping, classification and management (including the place of biologics) of CRSwNP patients.

The Italian severe/uncontrolled asthma registry (RItA): A 12-month clinical follow-up.

BACKGROUND: follow-up studies on registries of severe/uncontrolled asthma (SUA) patients are scanty. OBJECTIVE: to analyze baseline and follow-up characteristics of SUA patients and their longitudinal patterns. METHODS: 180 adult patients (age ≥15 yrs) were investigated at baseline and 12-month follow-up through the Italian SUA registry (RItA). Latent transition analysis (LTA) was performed to detect cross-sectional SUA phenotypes and longitudinal patterns. Risk factors for longitudinal patterns were assessed through logistic regression. RESULTS: a significant/borderline improvement of asthma control outcomes in the last 2-4 weeks emerged at follow-up with respect to baseline for: daily activities limitations (Δ -16%), frequent diurnal symptoms (Δ -25%), uncontrolled asthma symptoms according to ACT (Δ -26%). Last 12-month use of oral corticosteroids was less frequent at follow-up than at baseline (Δ -25%). Health status improvement was confirmed by lung function test results. Through LTA, two longitudinal patterns were detected considering last 12-month control outcomes: "persistence/worsening" (53.9%), "under control/improvement" (46.1%). A lower likelihood of having "persistence/worsening" SUA was exhibited by patients under anti-IgE (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.17-0.84) and inhaled corticosteroids-bronchodilator association treatment (OR 0.13, 95% CI 0.01-1.26, borderline value), while a higher likelihood was shown by older age at first asthma diagnosis (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.07). CONCLUSION: the implementation of a SUA registry, the availability of patient-level data and the application of an innovative longitudinal analysis allowed to observe a general improvement in asthma control, one year after baseline, and a lower risk of SUA "persistence/worsening" in patients under anti-IgE and regular ICS-bronchodilator association use.