The Combined Impact of Exhaled Nitric Oxide and Sputum Eosinophils Monitoring in Asthma Treatment: A Prospective Cohort Study

Title:The Combined Impact of Exhaled Nitric Oxide and Sputum Eosinophils Monitoring in Asthma Treatment: A Prospective Cohort Study

Volume: 21 Issue: 32

Author(s): Mario Malerba, Alessandro Radaeli, Alessia Olivini, Beatrice Ragnoli, Fabio Ricciardolo and Paolo Montuschi

Affiliation:

Keywords: Asthma, asthma exacerbation rate, asthma symptom score, fraction of exhaled nitric oxide, sputum eosinophils.

Abstract: Background: Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) treatment for asthma control is generally focused on lung function and symptoms, but inadequately correlated with airway inflammation.

Objective: To compare asthma control in a group of patients whose treatment was based on fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) and sputum eosinophils (intervention group) with a group in whom treatment was based on clinical score (control group).

Study design and primary outcome: Randomized parallel-group longitudinal 24-month study including 5 visits every 6 months. A combination of asthma exacerbation rate and symptom score at 24 months was the primary outcome. Participants: Fourteen patients with eosinophilic asthma per group were included.

Results: In the intervention group, exacerbation rate/patient/year was reduced at 12 months (0.82) (-73%) and, to a greater extent at 24 months (0.5) (-84%) compared with baseline (3.21, p<0.01). In the control group, a significant reduction in exacerbation rate/patient/year was only observed between month 12 (3.0) and 24 (2.0, -33%, p<0.01). At 24 months, exacerbation rate was lower (-75%) in the intervention (0.5) than in the control group (2.0, p<0.05).

Compared with baseline, mean symptom scores at 24 months were reduced in both groups (intervention group: -72%; control group: - 60%), but were lower in the intervention (8.1±1.0, p<0.05; -27%) than in the control group (11±2.6). ICS dose gradually increased in both groups throughout the study, with no between-group differences.

Conclusion: Compared with conventional strategy, longitudinal monitoring of FENO and sputum eosinophils improves eosinophilic asthma control in terms of reduced symptoms and exacerbations without additional increase e in ICS treatment.

Cite this article as:

Malerba Mario, Radaeli Alessandro, Olivini Alessia, Ragnoli Beatrice, Ricciardolo Fabio and Montuschi Paolo, The Combined Impact of Exhaled Nitric Oxide and Sputum Eosinophils Monitoring in Asthma Treatment: A Prospective Cohort Study, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2015; 21 (32) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1871524915666150710123415