Allergen skin test responses in broad U.S. asthma population in those with and without rhinitis.

Background: Asthma and allergic rhinitis are pathologically interlinked conditions. Despite skin testing (ST) being pivotal for evaluating allergic sensitization, U.S. data that date back to 1960s on ST reactivity patterns in subjects with asthma remain sparse. Objective: The purpose of this study was to elucidate seasonal, perennial ST responses, and their relationship with asthma severity, early versus late onset disease, and immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels. Methods: Five hundred patients with asthma were randomly selected from the National Jewish Health electronic medical record over a 3-year span. Demographic, clinical, and allergen ST reactivity data for a battery of seasonal and perennial allergens were procured, including total IgE levels, asthma onset, and severity, by using t-tests, χ² tests, and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), patterns of reactivity were assessed for overall, seasonal, and perennial allergens in relation to IgE levels, asthma onset, and severity. Results: Of the 500 patients, 398 were analyzed. 63.3% were women, 50.1% had adult-onset asthma, and 86.1% had rhinitis; 75.3% tested positive to one or more allergens, with men demonstrating higher overall (p = 0.039) and perennial (p = 0.035) sensitization. ST reactivity varied based on the presence of rhinitis for seasonal (p = 0.028) but not perennial (p = 0.733) allergens. Asthma severity was not significantly associated with ST reactivity (p > 0.10). ST positivity for perennial (p < 0.001) but not seasonal (p = 0.128) allergens was higher in childhood-onset asthma versus adult-onset asthma despite both groups having a large percentage of reactors. Elevated IgE levels correlated with ST reactivity (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Our study represents a unique comprehensive evaluation of ST reactivity in a U.S. asthma population, which is lacking in the literature, when factoring in asthma onset, severity, and IgE levels. Our findings underscore the importance of allergen sensitization in asthma, regardless of severity, concurrent rhinitis symptoms, or asthma onset, which challenge some of the prevailing assumptions about the relationship between allergen sensitization and asthma onset.

Association Between Elevated Blood Eosinophils and Chronic Kidney Disease Progression: Analyses of a Large United States Electronic Health Records Database.

Background: Blood eosinophils can increase in response to infection, inflammation, and hypersensitivity reactions, yet their involvement in the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is poorly understood. This study explores the relationship between blood eosinophils and CKD progression among patients in a real-world setting. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed data obtained from the Optum® de-identified electronic health records dataset in the United States. Patients diagnosed with CKD stage 3 or 4 (International Classification of Diseases diagnosis code or estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] <60 mL/min) between January 2011 and March 2018 were included and followed until progression to the next CKD stage, death, or dropout. The primary objective of this study was to assess the relationship between blood eosinophil counts (bEOS) and CKD progression, adjusting for clinical and demographic features as well as known risk factors for CKD stages 3-4. The primary outcomes were CKD progression and all-cause mortality. Results: We found that high eosinophilic levels (bEOS ≥300 cells/µL) were associated with CKD progression from stage 3 to stages 4 or 5 (hazard ratio [HR] ranging from 1.30 to 1.50) and from stages 4 to 5 (HR ranging from 1.28 to 1.50). Among patients with CKD progression, those with blood eosinophils ≥300 cells/µL appeared to have a relatively lower eGFR, higher all-cause mortality, and reduced time to CKD progression and death than those with <300 cells/µL. Factors including sex, race, hypertension, anemia, and treatments for cardiovascular and hematopoietic drugs were associated with CKD progression. Conclusion: Elevated eosinophils may increase the risk for CKD progression. Larger studies are needed to assess whether the risk of mortality is increased among patients with elevated eosinophils.

Clinical and economic burden of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis: A U.S. administrative claims analysis.

Background: Limited data exist on the clinical and economic burden of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP). Objective: To describe patient characteristics, health-care resource utilization (HCRU), and health-care costs among patients with CRSwNP with and without comorbid asthma (primary analysis) and with surgical management of nasal polyps (secondary analysis). Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients diagnosed with CRSwNP conducted using administrative claims data from January 1, 2013, through March 31, 2019. Study outcomes were assessed over a 2-year follow-up. Results were stratified by baseline asthma status (primary analysis) and presented separately for patients with surgically managed CRSwNP (secondary analysis). Results: The primary analysis included 10,999 patients with CRSwNP (2649 with asthma, 8350 without asthma). Patients with versus without asthma had higher medication use, HCRU, and all-cause medical costs (mean ± standard deviation $34,667 ± $42,234 versus $27,122 ± $45,573; p < 0.001) across the full follow-up period. CRSwNP-related medical costs were significantly higher for patients with versus without asthma in year 2 of follow-up. In the surgical management analysis (n = 4943), most categories of medication use and CRSwNP-related HCRU declined from baseline levels during follow-up, and CRSwNP-related pharmacy costs in year 2 were less than half of baseline levels. Conclusion: Patients diagnosed with CRSwNP and asthma had a greater burden of illness than those without asthma. Higher CRSwNP-related medical costs in year 2 of follow-up for patients with asthma may indicate worsening symptoms over time. Among patients with surgically managed CRSwNP, HCRU and costs increased in year 1 of follow-up but decreased below baseline levels in year 2, potentially reflecting improved symptom severity.

Volumetric assessment of paranasal sinus opacification on computed tomography can be automated using a convolutional neural network.

BACKGROUND: Computed tomography (CT) plays a key role in evaluation of paranasal sinus inflammation, but improved, and standardized, objective assessment is needed. Computerized volumetric analysis has benefits over visual scoring, but typically relies on manual image segmentation, which is difficult and time-consuming, limiting practical applicability. We hypothesized that a convolutional neural network (CNN) algorithm could perform automatic, volumetric segmentation of the paranasal sinuses on CT, enabling efficient, objective measurement of sinus opacification. In this study we performed initial clinical testing of a CNN for fully automatic quantitation of paranasal sinus opacification in the diagnostic workup of patients with chronic upper and lower airway disease. METHODS: Sinus CT scans were collected on 690 patients who underwent imaging as part of multidisciplinary clinical workup at a tertiary care respiratory hospital between April 2016 and November 2017. A CNN was trained to perform automatic segmentation using a subset of CTs (n = 180) that were segmented manually. A nonoverlapping set (n = 510) was used for testing. CNN opacification scores were compared with Lund-MacKay (LM) visual scores, pulmonary function test results, and other clinical variables using Spearman correlation and linear regression. RESULTS: CNN scores were correlated with LM scores (rho = 0.82, p < 0.001) and with forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1 ) percent predicted (rho = -0.21, p < 0.001), FEV1 /forced vital capacity ratio (rho = -0.27, p < 0.001), immunoglobulin E (rho = 0.20, p < 0.001), eosinophil count (rho = 0.28, p < 0.001), and exhaled nitric oxide (rho = 0.40, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Segmentation of the paranasal sinuses on CT can be automated using a CNN, providing truly objective, volumetric quantitation of sinonasal inflammation.

Effects of Reslizumab on Asthma Outcomes in a Subgroup of Eosinophilic Asthma Patients with Self-Reported Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps.

BACKGROUND: An estimated 7% of patients with asthma have chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), and more than 80% have at least some radiographic evidence of sinonasal inflammation. Aspirin sensitivity is strongly associated with elevated blood eosinophil levels and increased asthma severity. Intravenous (IV) reslizumab has been shown to improve asthma control in patients with nasal polyps. OBJECTIVE: These post hoc analyses of pooled data from 2 BREATH phase 3 clinical trials, studies 1 and 2 (NCT01287039 and NCT01285323), examined asthma-related outcomes in patients with comorbid, self-reported CRSwNP with and without aspirin sensitivity. METHODS: Patients aged 12-75 years with elevated blood eosinophils (≥400 cells/µL) and inadequately controlled asthma were randomized to receive placebo or reslizumab (3 mg/kg IV) every 4 weeks for 52 weeks. Patients continued their background asthma maintenance therapy during the study. Information regarding the presence of CRSwNP was obtained through patient-reported medical history. RESULTS: Add-on reslizumab treatment reduced the frequency of clinical asthma exacerbations by 83% versus placebo among patients with CRSwNP. Among patients with and without aspirin sensitivity, reductions of 79% and 84%, respectively, were observed. Patients with CRSwNP (with and without aspirin sensitivity) treated with reslizumab add-on therapy also had significant improvements in lung function, as measured by forced expiratory volume in 1 second, compared with placebo. Among patients with CRSwNP, reslizumab was also associated with improvements in patient-reported asthma control and asthma quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with eosinophilic asthma and self-reported CRSwNP, with and without aspirin sensitivity, are highly responsive to treatment with reslizumab for asthma-related outcomes. These findings suggest that prospective investigation of reslizumab in this patient population is warranted.

Bronchoprovocation Testing in Asthma: An Update.

Bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) is defined as a heightened bronchoconstrictive response to airway stimuli. It complements the cardinal features in asthma, such as variable or reversible airflow limitation and airway inflammation. Although BHR is considered a pathophysiologic hallmark of asthma, it should be acknowledged that this property of the airway is dynamic, because its severity and even presence can vary over time with disease activity, triggers or specific exposure, and with treatment. In addition, it is important to recognize that there is a component that is not reflective of a specific disease entity.

Exhaled Nitric Oxide: An Update.

Fractional concentration of exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) is a biomarker used to identify allergic airway inflammation. Because it is noninvasive and easy to obtain, its utility has been studied in the diagnosis and management of several respiratory diseases. Much of the research has been done in asthma, and many studies support the use of FENO in aiding diagnosing asthma, predicting steroid responsiveness, and preventing exacerbations by guiding medication dosage and assessing adherence.

Effect of the S-nitrosoglutathione reductase inhibitor N6022 on bronchial hyperreactivity in asthma.

RATIONALE: Patients with asthma demonstrate depletion of the endogenous bronchodilator GSNO and upregulation of GSNOR. OBJECTIVES: An exploratory proof of concept clinical study of N6022 in mild asthma to determine the potential bronchoprotective effects of GSNOR inhibition. Mechanistic studies aimed to provide translational evidence of effect. METHODS: Fourteen mild asthma patients were treated with intravenous N6022 (5 mg) or placebo and observed for 7 days, with repeated assessments of the provocative dose of methacholine causing a 20% fall in FEV1 (methacholine PC20 FEV1), followed by a washout period and crossover treatment and observation. In vitro studies in isolated eosinophils investigated the effect of GSNO and N6022 on apoptosis. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: This was a negative trial as it failed to reach its primary endpoint, which was change from baseline in methacholine PC20 FEV1 at 24 h. However, our exploratory analysis demonstrated significantly more two dose-doubling increases in PC20 FEV1 for N6022 compared with placebo (21% vs 6%, P < 0.05) over the 7-day observation period. Furthermore, a significant treatment effect was observed in the change in PC20 FEV1 from baseline averaged over the 7-day observation period (mean change: +0.82 mg/ml [N6022] from 1.34 mg/ml [baseline] vs -0.18 mg/ml [placebo] from 1.16 mg/ml [baseline], P = 0.023). N6022 was well tolerated in mild asthmatics. In vitro studies demonstrated enhanced eosinophilic apoptosis with N6022. CONCLUSIONS: In this early phase exploratory proof of concept trial in asthma, N6022 did not significantly alter methacholine PC20 FEV1 at 24 h, but did have a treatment effect at 7 days compared to baseline. Further investigation of the efficacy of S-nitrosoglutathione reductase inhibition in a patient population with eosinophilic asthma is warranted.

Changing Paradigms in the Treatment of Severe Asthma: The Role of Biologic Therapies.

Cytokine antagonists are monoclonal antibodies that offer new treatment options for refractory asthma but will also increase complexity because they are effective only for patients with certain asthma subtypes that remain to be more clearly defined. The clinical and inflammatory heterogeneity within refractory asthma makes it difficult to manage the disease and to determine which, if any, biologic therapy is suitable for a specific patient. The purpose of this article is to provide a data-driven discussion to clarify the use of biologic therapies in patients with refractory asthma. We first discuss the epidemiology and pathophysiology of refractory asthma. We then interpret current evidence for biomarkers of eosinophilic or type 2-high asthma so that clinicians can determine potential treatments for patients based on knowledge of their effectiveness in specific asthma phenotypes. We then assess clinical data on the efficacy, safety, and mechanisms of action of approved and pipeline biologic therapies. We conclude by discussing the potential of phenotyping or endotyping refractory asthma and how biologic therapies can play a role in treating patients with refractory asthma.

Chronic Rhinosinusitis and Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease.

Patients with severe asthma and concomitant chronic rhinosinusitis often have severe, refractory upper and lower airway inflammation. This inflammation has been proposed to be similar throughout the upper and lower airways leading to the unified airways concept. This article reviews chronic rhinosinusitis with and without nasal polyps, and the subgroup with aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease, while focusing on the relationship with asthma. Additionally, diagnosis and treatment with current and newer therapies are discussed.

Clinical Examination of Tissue Eosinophilia in Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyposis.

OBJECTIVE: (1) Describe clinical and histopathologic findings in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). (2) Determine if tissue and serum eosinophilia predicts disease severity in CRSwNP. STUDY DESIGN: Case series with chart review. SETTING: Academic hospital specializing in respiratory and allergic disease. SUBJECTS: Patients with CRSwNP treated from 2008 to 2010. METHODS: Clinical data were collected; sinus computed tomography (CT) scans were scored according to the Lund-Mackay system; and surgical specimens were evaluated for degree of tissue eosinophilia. Statistical analysis was performed to compare eosinophilia with indicators of disease severity. RESULTS: Seventy CRSwNP patients were included, with a mean Lund-Mackay score of 16.7; 62.1% of patients had severe asthma, and 62.9% were aspirin sensitive. Elevated tissue eosinophil level did not correlate with medication usage, olfactory symptoms, or Lund-Mackay scores, nor did it correlate with presence of asthma or aspirin-sensitivity (P = .09). Patients with mild asthma had significantly more tissue eosinophils versus patients with severe asthma, possibly because of the high amount of chronic corticosteroid use in severe asthmatics. There was no correlation between tissue and serum eosinophil counts (P = .97), but there was a significant positive correlation between CT score and peripheral eosinophil level (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Higher serum eosinophil levels may indicate more extensive mucosal disease as measured on CT scan. Neither serum nor tissue eosinophilia predicted disease severity in our retrospective analysis of CRSwNP patients, and serum eosinophil level did not serve as a marker of tissue eosinophilia.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory-induced inhibition of signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT-6) phosphorylation in aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease.

BACKGROUND: Aspirin desensitization provides long-term clinical benefits. The exact mechanisms of aspirin desensitization are not clearly understood. OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on T-cell activation of the IL-4 pathway in aspirin-sensitive patients with asthma and control subjects. METHODS: A total of 11 aspirin-sensitive patients with asthma, 10 aspirin-tolerant patients with asthma, and 10 controls without asthma were studied. PBMCs were stimulated with an anti-CD3 antibody and IL-4 or IL-12, with and without the presence of NSAIDs. The expression of phosphorylated signal transducers and activators of transcription 6 (pSTAT6), phosphorylated signal transducers and activators of transcription 4, and IL-4 was detected in CD4 T cells by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Stimulation with a combination of anti-CD3 and IL-4 induced pSTAT6 in CD4 T cells from all subjects. The induction of pSTAT6 was significantly higher in aspirin-sensitive patients with asthma than in controls subjects. The increase in pSTAT6 was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by aspirin and indomethacin and minimally by sodium salicylate. This inhibition was strongest in aspirin-sensitive patients. Two-group comparisons showed significant differences in pSTAT6 inhibition by all concentrations of indomethacin and aspirin: between aspirin-sensitive and aspirin-tolerant groups and between aspirin-sensitive and control groups. No differences were found between aspirin-tolerant and control groups at all 3 concentrations. The inhibition of pSTAT6 was associated with reduced IL-4 expression. CONCLUSIONS: NSAIDs inhibited signal transducers and activators of transcription 6 signaling in CD4 T cells. This inhibition was significantly higher in aspirin-sensitive patients than in aspirin-tolerant subjects and was associated with reduced expression of IL-4. These findings have implications for clinical benefits of aspirin desensitization in aspirin-sensitive patients with asthma.

Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy in Primary Immune Deficiencies: Stat1 Gain of Function and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a rare, severe, otherwise fatal viral infection of the white matter of the brain caused by the polyomavirus JC virus, which typically occurs only in immunocompromised patients. One patient with dominant gain-of-function (GOF) mutation in signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis and PML was reported previously. We aim to identify the molecular defect in 3 patients with PML and to review the literature on PML in primary immune defects (PIDs). METHODS: STAT1 was sequenced in 3 patients with PML. U3C cell lines were transfected with STAT1 and assays to search for STAT1 phosphorylation, transcriptional response, and target gene expression were performed. RESULTS: We identified 3 new unrelated cases of PML in patients with GOF STAT1 mutations, including the novel STAT1 mutation, L400Q. These STAT1 mutations caused delayed STAT1 dephosphorylation and enhanced interferon-gamma-driven responses. In our review of the literature regarding PML in primary immune deficiencies we found 26 cases, only 54% of which were molecularly characterized, the remainder being syndromically diagnosed only. CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of PML in 4 cases of STAT1 GOF suggests that STAT1 plays a critical role in the control of JC virus in the central nervous system.

Vocal cord dysfunction: a review.

Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) is a term that refers to inappropriate adduction of the vocal cords during inhalation and sometimes exhalation. It is a functional disorder that serves as an important mimicker of asthma. Vocal cord dysfunction can be difficult to treat as the condition is often underappreciated and misdiagnosed in clinical practice. Recognition of vocal cord dysfunction in patients with asthma-type symptoms is essential since missing this diagnosis can be a barrier to adequately treating patients with uncontrolled respiratory symptoms. Although symptoms often mimic asthma, the two conditions have certain distinct clinical features and demonstrate specific findings on diagnostic studies, which can serve to differentiate the two conditions. Moreover, management of vocal cord dysfunction should be directed at minimizing known triggers and initiating speech therapy, thereby minimizing use of unnecessary asthma medications. This review article describes key clinical features, important physical exam findings and commonly reported triggers in patients with vocal cord dysfunction. Additionally, this article discusses useful diagnostic studies to identify patients with vocal cord dysfunction and current management options for such patients.