A treatment for asthma patients that reduces its harmful effects

A treatment for asthma patients that reduces its harmful effects

Using a biologic therapy to reduce lung inflammation enabled 92% of people with severe asthma to reduce their daily doses of inhaled steroids without worsening their symptoms, a new study has found. These findings mean that people with severe asthma could reduce the risk of adverse effects associated with long-term steroid use, according to New Atlas, citing The Lancet.

Of the approximately 300 million people with asthma in the world, about 3% to 5% have severe asthma, experiencing daily shortness of breath, chest tightness and cough that often leads to hospitalization. Most severe asthma patients have a subtype called eosinophilic asthma, which is characterized by high levels of immune cells (eosinophils) in the blood that cause uncontrollable swelling and inflammation of the airways.

Avoid possible negative effects

The recommended treatment for eosinophilic asthma, according to the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), is a daily combination of budesonide (an inhaled corticosteroid to manage inflammation) and formoterol (a long-acting bronchodilator to relax and open the airways). This treatment, known as an ICS or “steroid,” is preferred over short-acting “rescue” inhalers because of its dual anti-inflammatory and bronchodilator effects. But long-term use can be problematic, as it is associated with oral thrush, osteoporosis, diabetes, a weakened immune system, and cataracts.

A study, conducted by scientists from King's College London on patients in four countries: the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Germany, examined whether treatment with benralizumab (a biological treatment) allows people with severe eosinophilic asthma to reduce the dose of ICS without losing control of their symptoms. asthma.

David Jackson, leader of the research team, said: “Biological treatments such as benralizumab have revolutionized severe asthma care in many ways, and the results of the new study show for the first time that steroid-related harm can be avoided for the majority of patients who use this treatment.”

Benralizumab is given by subcutaneous injection once every four weeks for the first three doses, then once every eight weeks.

The results of the study indicated that, in general, 92% of participants reduced the dose of ICS. Specifically, 15% of them reduced the dose to a medium dose, 17% to a low dose, and 61% to a dose as needed only. Also, 91% of participants did not experience any worsening of symptoms during tapering.

Sagittarius love horoscope for the year 2024