Papel de N-acetilcisteína (NAC) en pacientes con tabaquismo / Role of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in patients with smoking

Antecedentes y objetivo. El tabaquismo es el principal factor de riesgo de la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC). N-acetilcisteína (NAC) es un agente mucolítico con propiedades antioxidantes y antiinflamatorias que ha demostrado ser eficaz en la reducción de la tasa de exacerbaciones y mejoría clínica de los pacientes con EPOC. El objetivo del trabajo es conocer la opinión de terapeutas expertos acerca del perfil o perfiles de los pacientes fumadores que pueden ser candidatos al uso de NAC. Métodos. Se efectuó una encuesta distribuida a las unidades de tabaquismo de España y una Reunión de Expertos en tabaquismo y EPOC, en la que los Expertos pudieron debatir abiertamente los tópicos seleccionados. Resultados. Los expertos reconocieron el papel del tabaquismo en la generación de estrés oxidativo y concordaron en emplear la terapia mucolítica/antioxidante para fumadores o exfumadores con síntomas respiratorios. Se debatió la necesidad de ampliar las indicaciones de esta terapia a otros perfiles de pacientes. Se señaló también el potencial efecto preventivo de la NAC sobre el daño pulmonar por su acción antioxidante, aunque se necesitaría más evidencia en este ámbito específico del tabaquismo. Se puso énfasis en diferenciar la dosis de NAC como mucolítico (600 mg/día)o antioxidante (1.200 mg/día). Conclusiones. Los expertos valoraron a NAC como un fármaco bien tolerado, de sencillo uso, con un conocido buen perfil de seguridad y un gran potencial para lograr los objetivos terapéuticos por su alta capacidad antioxidante. (AU)

Background and objective. The smoking habit is the main risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) is a mucolytic agent with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that has been demonstrated to be effective in the reduction of the rate of exacerbations and clinical improvement of patients with COPD. This study aims to know the opinion of the expert therapists on the profile(s) of the patients who smoke and who may be candidates for the use of NAC. Methods. A survey was performed, distributing it to the smoking units in Spain and to a Meeting of Experts on the smoking habit and COPD in which the Experts could openly debate on the selected topics. Results. The experts recognized the role of the smoking habit in the generation of oxidative stress and agreed to use the mucolytic/antioxidant treatment for smokers or ex-smokers with respiratory symptoms. The need to extend the indications of this therapy to other patient profiles was debated. The potential preventive effect of NAC on lung damage due to its antioxidant action was also pointed out, although more evidence in this special area of the smoking habit would be necessary. Emphasis was placed on differentiating the NAC dose as a mucolytic (600 mg/day) or as an antioxidant (1,200 mg/day). Conclusions. The experts evaluated NAC as a drug that is well-tolerated, easy-to-use, with a known good safety profile and having great potential to achieve the therapeutic objectives due to its high antioxidant capacity. (AU)

Diagnostic performance of the measurement of nitric oxide in exhaled air in the diagnosis of COPD phenotypes.

INTRODUCTION: COPD is a highly heterogeneous disease that has a serious impact on affected populations. Patients share some of the features of bronchial asthma, often summarized under the term ACOS (asthma-COPD overlap syndrome). The objective of this study is to evaluate the utility of the measurement of nitric oxide in exhaled air (FENO50) in the diagnosis of COPD phenotypes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study comprised cross-sectional observation of patients receiving assistance during a respiratory outpatient visit. Patient data was collected on lung function, FENO, questionnaires scoring CAT®(COPD Assessment Test), and COPD clinical phenotype. RESULTS: 192 patients were studied: 103 with COPD; 16 healthy non-smokers; 30 healthy smokers; and 43 asthmatics. COPD patients were grouped by phenotype: 34 non exacerbators (33.0%); 22 ACOS (21.3%); 13 frequent exacerbators with emphysema (12.6%); and 34 frequent exacerbators with chronic bronchitis (33.0%). ACOS patients showed significantly higher FENO50 values compared to the others after adjustments for confounding factors. FENO50 demonstrated greater diagnostic accuracy than the bronchodilator test (BT) in the diagnosis of ACOS and COPD phenotypes (AUC 0.79 vs 0.74), with an optimal cut-off value of 19 ppb (sensitivity 0.68, specificity 0.75). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with COPD have different levels of FENO50 depending on the COPD phenotype. FENO50 measurement provides better diagnostic accuracy than BT, with an optimal cut-off value of 19 ppb.

Premenstrual asthma and leukotriene variations in the menstrual cycle

Background: Several authors have reported an increase in leukotriene C4 in the premenstrual phase in women with severe premenstrual asthma, indicating that antileukotrienes could be used in treatment. Objective: To analyse the role of leukotrienes in premenstrual asthma. Methods: A questionnaire on respiratory symptoms and peak flow during one complete menstrual cycle was given to women of fertile age to define them as asthmatics who suffered from premenstrual asthma or not. Premenstrual asthma (PMA) was defined as a clinical or functional deterioration (major=20%) in the premenstrual phase compared with the preovulatory phase. Blood samples to measure leukotriene C4 were taken during the preovulatory and premenstrual phases. Results: Blood samples were taken in 62 asthmatic women, 34 of whom (54.3%) presented PMA criteria, all with a premenstrual deterioration of between 20 and 40%. There was no difference in leukotriene C4 levels between the preovulatory and premenstrual phases in the women who suffered from PMA (1.50ng/mL vs. 1.31ng/mL; p=0.32) and those who did not (1.40ng/mL vs. 1.29ng/mL; p=0.62). Neither were there any differences in leukotriene levels between women with or without PMA. The results were similar for each category of asthma severity. Conclusions: Our data show that leukotriene C4 does not appear to be involved in the pathogenesis of premenstrual asthma, or support the use of anti-leukotrienes in the specific treatment of premenstrual asthma, at least in women with a moderate premenstrual deterioration. No differences appeared in any of the categories of asthma severity(AU)

Vacuna neumocócica en fumadores / No disponible

No disponible

Tabaco y defensas pulmonares / No disponible

No disponible

Premenstrual asthma and leukotriene variations in the menstrual cycle.

BACKGROUND: Several authors have reported an increase in leukotriene C4 in the premenstrual phase in women with severe premenstrual asthma, indicating that antileukotrienes could be used in treatment. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the role of leukotrienes in premenstrual asthma. METHODS: A questionnaire on respiratory symptoms and peak flow during one complete menstrual cycle was given to women of fertile age to define them as asthmatics who suffered from premenstrual asthma or not. Premenstrual asthma (PMA) was defined as a clinical or functional deterioration (≥20%) in the premenstrual phase compared with the preovulatory phase. Blood samples to measure leukotriene C4 were taken during the preovulatory and premenstrual phases. RESULTS: Blood samples were taken in 62 asthmatic women, 34 of whom (54.3%) presented PMA criteria, all with a premenstrual deterioration of between 20 and 40%. There was no difference in leukotriene C4 levels between the preovulatory and premenstrual phases in the women who suffered from PMA (1.50ng/mL vs. 1.31ng/mL; p=0.32) and those who did not (1.40ng/mL vs. 1.29ng/mL; p=0.62). Neither were there any differences in leukotriene levels between women with or without PMA. The results were similar for each category of asthma severity. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that leukotriene C4 does not appear to be involved in the pathogenesis of premenstrual asthma, or support the use of anti-leukotrienes in the specific treatment of premenstrual asthma, at least in women with a moderate premenstrual deterioration. No differences appeared in any of the categories of asthma severity.

Variability in the prevalence of premenstrual asthma.

Our aim is to analyse the differences in the prevalence of premenstrual asthma (PMA) according to a set of criteria, the relationship between them and the influence of asthma severity. The answer "Yes" to "Does your asthma get worse before menstruation?" was considered subjective PMA. A daily respiratory symptoms register of fertile asthmatic females was taken during two consecutive menstrual cycles. For the semi-objective diagnosis, an exacerbation of > or =20% was required in the symptoms register. Objective diagnosis was a premenstrual worsening of > or =20% of peak flow. We selected 103 patients. Subjective premenstrual deterioration was perceived in 43.7%. The semi-objective deterioration of symptoms in the first cycle occurred in 44.7%, and in 22.3% in both cycles. A total of 54.3% of females with semi-objective criteria in the first cycle perceived a subjective deterioration of symptoms, versus 35.1% of those without semi-objective criteria (p = 0.05). PMA was present at all levels of asthma severity, with no clear link to the degree of severity. The detection of PMA prevalence, the subjective perception of this deterioration and its presence at all levels of asthma severity lead us to urge research into possible premenstrual deterioration in all fertile asthmatic females.

Documento de consenso sobre asma bronquial en Andalucía / No disponible

No disponible

Tabacosis y asma, dos patologías muy prevalentes / Smoking and asthma, two diseases very frequent

No disponible

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Asma premenstrual, relación con la severidad del asma y su apreciación subjetiva / Premenstrual Asthma, relation between the severity of the asthma and its subjective appreciation

Introducción: diversos estudios, aunque con resultados dispares, han relacionado el asma premenstrual (AP) con la severidad delasma. Por otra parte, no existe uniformidad respecto al hecho de que las pacientes con AP manifiesten una percepción subjetiva de empeoramiento de su asma en el periodo premenstrual. Objetivo: estudiar en mujeres asmáticas, con o sin criterios de AP, la relación con la clasificación del asma (GINA 2005) y el hecho de manifestar un empeoramiento de su asma en el periodo premenstrual. Material y método: se ha realizado un estudio observacional trasversal sobre una población de mujeres asmáticas en edad fértil en las que se realizó un cuestionario en el que se recogía, entre otros aspectos, la clasificación del asma (GINA 2005) y el hecho de manifestar un empeoramiento de los síntomas asmáticos en el periodo premenstrual. Por otra parte, se recogía diariamente durante un ciclo menstrual completo un cuestionario de síntomas respiratorios–SR– (tos, disnea, sibilancias y opresión torácica) y los valores depeak flow (PF) matutino y vespertino durante dicho ciclo. Se considera AP al empeoramiento > 20% en el PF y/o en los síntomas asmáticos (>20%) en el periodo premenstrual. Resultados: hasta el momento, han completado la recogida de los cuestionarios y los valores de PF, en los distintos hospitales participantes,82 pacientes. (6 graves, 29 moderados, 26 persistentes leves y 21 intermitentes leves). De ellas, 35 (42,7%; IC 95%: 31,96-53,41) presentaban criterios clínicos de asma premenstrual. Presentaban criterios funcionales 3 de las mujeres (3,7%), cumpliendo todas ellas también criterios clínicos. El asma premenstrual se distribuyó con frecuencia similar en los distintos grupos de gravedad(p=0,98). Las mujeres con AP reconocían con mayor frecuencia(61,8% frente a 40,4%) el empeoramiento premenstrual de sus síntomas (p=0,06).(..) (AU)

Introduction: A number of studies, although with incongruent results, have related premenstrual asthma (PA) to the severity of the asthma. On the other hand, there is no uniformity regarding the fact that patients with PA express a subjective perception of a worsening of their asthma during the premenstrual period. Objective: To study asthmatic women with/without PA criteria, the relationship between the classification of the asthma (GINA2005) and whether there is a worsening of their asthma during the premenstrual period. Materials and method: A transverse observational study was carried out on a population of fertile, asthmatic women, who completed a questionnaire in which included, amongst other aspects, the asthma classification (GINA 2005) and whether there was a manifest worsening of the asthmatic symptoms during the premenstrual period. On the other hand, a questionnaire of respiratory symptoms (RS), including cough, dyspnea, sibilance and thoracic oppression, was completed daily, during a complete menstrual cycle, plus the Peak Flow values in the morning and evening during this cycle. PA is consider edif there is a worsening >20% during the PF and/or in the asthmatic symptoms (>20%) during the premenstrual period. Results: Up to now, the completed questionnaires have been collected and the values of the Peak Flow (PF), at the different participating hospitals, 82 patients (6 serious, 29 moderate, 26 persistent light and21 intermittent light). Of these, 35 (42.7%; IC95%: 31.96-53.41) presented clinical criteria of Premenstrual Asthma. Three of the women presented functional criteria (3.7%), all them also fulfilling clinical criteria. Premenstrual asthma was distributed with a similar frequently in the different groups of seriousness (p=0.98). The women with PA recognized with more frequency (61.8% as against 40.4%) the premenstrual worsening of their symptoms (p=0.06). (..) (AU)

Tratamiento médico del tabaquismo: Bupropión. Nuevas perspectivas / No disponible

No disponible

Asma y humo de tabaco / Asthma and tobacco smoke

No disponible

Recomendaciones para el tratamiento del tabaquismo / Recommendations on the treatment of tobacco dependence

No disponible