Benralizumab in severe eosinophilic asthma: A real-world, single-center, observational study from Mexico

Introduction: Urbanization has increased the prevalence of asthma in lower- and middle-income countries. Severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA), a subtype of asthma, can be refractory to standard therapy. Biologics such as benralizumab target interleukin-5 and have demonstrated effectiveness in managing SEA. There exists no real-world evidence on the effectiveness of benralizumab in Mexico. Therefore, this study presents data on the role of benralizumab in managing SEA in Mexican patients. Objective: The effectiveness of benralizumab on the quality of life (QoL), asthma control, lung function, symptoms of asthma, and benralizumab’s safety profile were assessed. Methods: The study sample comprised 10 patients with SEA treated with a subcutaneous (SC) administration of benralizumab 30 mg once in 4 weeks for the first three doses followed by a dose every 8 weeks for 2 years. Laboratory tests, resting spirometry, and skin prick tests were conducted. Levels of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) were evaluated, when possible, with the intent to phenotype asthma, as T2 high or non-T2, before starting benralizumab therapy. The Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ), Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ), and Asthma Control Test (ACT) were administered to evaluate the effectiveness of benralizumab on asthma control and QoL. Results: All patients showed significant symptom control, QoL, and lung function over 2 years. Mild adverse effects, such as headache and arthralgia, were observed. Conclusion: Benralizumab appears to be a promising agent in controlling SEA. This study has focused on measuring tangible outcomes, such as a reduction in symptoms, a reduction in exacerbation, and an improvement in QoL. Thus, benralizumab may constitute an important addition to the arsenal of medications against SEA (AU)

Case report: Respiratory syncytial virus / Caso clínico: virus sincicial respiratorio

Background: The Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is the most important viral pathogen in children under 2 years of age, which warrants hospitalization for a low respiratory infection. 0.5% of children under 5 with RSV infection require hospitalization. The aim of this case is to reaffirm the importance of this virus as a cause of severe disease and to emphasize the importance of adequate diagnosis and management to improve prognosis. Clinical case: Child of 1 year 3 months old, without risk factors for severe infection by respiratory viruses. A 3-day course of respiratory failure, requiring mechanical ventilation with a pulmonary protection strategy due to the development of intra-pulmonary ARDS, was considered a mixed infection and received antibacterial treatment. During his hospitalization, RSV infection was documented. He was graduated without pulmonary sequelae. Conclusions: Respiratory syncytial virus is the respiratory virus that causes a greater burden of disease, even above influenza. Unfortunately for children without risk factors for severe infection there are no options for prevention or treatment, so in subjects with severe disease the only option is the management of support in specialized units and the timely detection of bacterial overinfection. The development of a vaccine is necessary.

Introducción: El virus sincicial respiratorio (VSR) es el patógeno viral más importante en niños menores de 2 años que ameritan hospitalización por infección respiratoria baja. Un 0.5% de los menores de 5 años con infección por VSR requiere ingreso hospitalario. El objetivo de este caso es reafirmar la importancia de este virus como causa de cuadros graves y recalcar la importancia de un diagnóstico y manejo adecuados para mejorar el pronóstico. Caso clínico: Paciente de 1 año 3 meses de edad, sin factores de riesgo para infección grave por virus respiratorios. Padecimiento de 3 días de evolución hacia falla respiratoria, requirió ventilación mecánica con estrategia de protección pulmonar por desarrollo de SDRA intrapulmonar, se consideró infección mixta por lo que recibió tratamiento antibacteriano, durante su hospitalización se documentó infección por VSR. Fue egresado sin secuelas pulmonares. Conclusiones: El virus sincicial respiratorio es el virus respiratorio que ocasiona mayor carga de la enfermedad, incluso por arriba de influenza. Desafortunadamente, para los niños sin factores de riesgo para infección grave no hay opciones de prevención ni de tratamiento, por lo que en los sujetos con enfermedad grave la única opción es el manejo de soporte en unidades especializadas y la detección oportuna de sobreinfección bacteriana. Es necesario el desarrollo de una vacuna.

Pediatric asthma treatment: What to do when international guideline recommendations do not agree.

BACKGROUND: There was a need for a solid asthma guideline in Mexico to update and unify asthma management. Because high-quality asthma guidelines exist worldwide, in which the latest evidence on asthma management is summarized, the ADAPTE approach allows for the development of a national asthma guideline based on evidence from already existing guidelines, adapted to national needs. OBJECTIVE: To fuse evidence from the best asthma guidelines and adapt it to local needs with the ADAPTE approach. METHODS: The Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II asthma guidelines were evaluated by a core group to select 3 primary guidelines. For each step of asthma management, clinical questions were formulated and replied according to (1) evidence in the primary guidelines, (2) safety, (3) Cost, and (4) patient preference. The Guidelines Development Group, composed of a broad range of experts from medical specialties, primary care physicians, and methodologists, adjusted the draft questions and replies in several rounds of a Delphi process and 3 face-to-face meetings, taking into account the reality of the situation in Mexico. We present the results of the pediatric asthma treatment part. RESULTS: Selected primary guidelines are from the British Thoracic Society and Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (BTS/SIGN), Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), and Spanish Guidelines on the Management of Asthma (GEMA) 2015, with 2016 updates. Recommendations or suggestions were made for asthma treatment in Mexico. In this article, the detailed analysis of the evidence present in the BTS/SIGN, GINA, and GEMA sections on the (non) pharmacologic treatment of pediatric asthma, education, and devices are presented for 2 age groups: children 5 years or younger and children 6 to 11 years old with asthma. CONCLUSION: For the pediatric treatment and patient education sections, applying the AGREE II and Delphi methods is useful to develop a scientifically sustained document, adjusted to the Mexican situation, as is the Mexican Guideline on Asthma.

[Mexican Asthma Guidelines: GUIMA 2017]. / Guía Mexicana del Asma: GUIMA 2017.

BACKGROUND: The need for a national guideline, with a broad basis among specialists and primary care physicians was felt in Mexico, to try unifying asthma management. As several high-quality asthma guidelines exist worldwide, it was decided to select the best three for transculturation. METHODS: Following the internationally recommended methodology for guideline transculturation, ADAPTE, a literature search for asthma guidelines, published 1-1-2007 through 31-12-2015 was conducted. AGREE-II evaluations yielded 3/40 most suitable for transculturation. Their compound evidence was fused with local reality, patient preference, cost and safety considerations to draft the guideline document. Subsequently, this was adjusted by physicians from 12 national medical societies in several rounds of a Delphi process and 3 face-to-face meetings to reach the final version. RESULTS: Evidence was fused from British Thoracic Society Asthma Guideline 2014, Global Initiative on Asthma 2015, and Guía Española del Manejo del Asma 2015 (2016 updates included). After 3 Delphi-rounds we developed an evidence-based document taking into account patient characteristics, including age, treatment costs and safety and best locally available medication. CONCLUSIONS: In cooperation pulmonologists, allergists, ENT physicians, paediatricians and GPs were able to develop an evidence-based document for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of asthma and its exacerbations in Mexico.

Antecedentes: Con el objetivo de unificar el manejo del asma en México se estructuró una guía clínica que conjunta el conocimiento de diversas especialidades y la atención en el primer nivel de contacto. Se seleccionaron 3 guías publicadas en el ámbito internacional para su transculturación. Métodos: Conforme a la metodología ADAPTE se usó AGREE II después de la búsqueda bibliográfica de guías sobre asma publicadas entre 2007 y 2015. Se fusionó la realidad local con la evidencia de 3/40 mejores guías. El documento inicial fue sometido a la revisión de representantes de 12 sociedades médicas en varias rondas Delphi hasta llegar a la versión final. Resultados: Las guías base fueron la British Thoracic Society Asthma Guideline 2014, la Global Initiative on Asthma 2015 y la Guía Española del Manejo del Asma 2015. Después de 3 rondas Delphi se desarrolló un documento en el que se consideraron las características de los pacientes según edad, costos de los tratamientos y perfiles de seguridad de los fármacos disponibles en México. Conclusión: Con la cooperación de neumólogos, alergólogos, otorrinolaringólogos, pediatras y médicos generales se llegó a un consenso basado en evidencia, en el que se incluyeron recomendaciones sobre prevención, diagnóstico y tratamiento del asma y sus crisis.

[Special considerations in children under five years with asthma]. / Consideraciones especiales en niños menores de cinco años con asma.

Currently, clinical practice guidelines and international guidelines on diagnosis and management of asthma, including special considerations in patients under five years old, given the frequent respiratory morbidity associated with this age group and poor or no cooperation from the child for testing respiratory function, favoring the underdiagnosis, delaying treatment and affecting the proper assessment of severity, level of control, and adequate clinical response to treatment. That is why the proper understanding of the natural history and the different phenotypes in infants and toddlers, allow for functional and clinical considerations on the progression of asthma from early childhood to adulthood, being necessary to make a special deal considering personal and family history, symptoms and progression of comorbidities exist which in turn will classify, monitor and plan treatment to achieve and maintain control of the disease, so far as asthma is not cured but their control is achieved in most patients. The doctor-patient interaction, family, education, control of risk factors and comorbidities, assessment, treatment and monitoring of the development of asthma are the foundation for success in the management of asthmatic patients.