RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: In Canada, severe asthma affects an estimated 5-10% of people with asthma and is associated with frequent exacerbations, poor symptom control and significant morbidity from the disease itself, as well as the high dose inhaled, and systemic steroids used to treat it. Significant heterogeneity exists in service structure and patient access to severe asthma care, including access to biologic treatments. There appears to be over-reliance on short-acting beta agonists and frequent oral corticosteroid use, two indicators of uncontrolled asthma which can indicate undiagnosed or suboptimally treated severe asthma. The objective of this modified Delphi consensus project was to define standards of care for severe asthma in Canada, in areas where the evidence is lacking through patient and healthcare professional consensus, to complement forthcoming guidelines. METHODS: The steering group of asthma experts identified 43 statements formed from eight key themes. An online 4-point Likert scale questionnaire was sent to healthcare professionals working in asthma across Canada to assess agreement (consensus) with these statements. Consensus was defined as high if ≥ 75% and very high if ≥ 90% of respondents agreed with a statement. RESULTS: A total of 150 responses were received from HCPs including certified respiratory educators, respirologists, allergists, general practitioners/family physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and respiratory therapists. Consensus amongst respondents was very high in 37 (86%) statements, high in 4 (9%) statements and was not achieved in 2 (5%) statements. Based on the consensus scores, ten key recommendations were proposed. These focus on referrals from primary and secondary care, accessing specialist asthma services, homecare provision for severe asthma patients and outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of these recommendations across the severe asthma care pathway in Canada has the potential to improve outcomes for patients through earlier detection of undiagnosed severe asthma, reduction in time to severe asthma diagnosis, and initiation of advanced phenotype specific therapies.
RESUMEN
Bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) is a serious complication of hematopoietic SCT (HSCT). The condition is believed to be the result of an inflammatory part of the GVHD. Although many BO patients receive immunosuppressive therapy, there is no clear evidence that therapeutic interventions have a positive impact. In the last 20 years, it has been recognized that macrolides have immunomodulatory effects beyond their antibiotic effect. Recent data suggest also that the use of macrolides in BO post HSCT may halt disease progression. Our objectives are to give the readers information on the background of BO post HSCT, to review the immunomodulatory properties of macrolides in general and specifically in pulmonary diseases, and to summarize the current knowledge of macrolide benefits in BO therapy. Research into macrolide immunomodulation for chronic pulmonary disorders, such as diffuse panbronchiolitis and cystic fibrosis, shows consistent positive effects. The use of macrolides for other types of pulmonary inflammatory complications is yet to be proved. The benefit for BO post HSCT was shown only in a small non-randomized trial. Additional in vivo research is needed before developing any firm conclusions.