PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Asthma is a complex inflammatory disease and current therapy remains inadequate in many sufferers. There is phenotypic heterogeneity in its clinical expression as a consequence of gene-environment interactions and heterogeneity in response to therapy. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge on phenotype-driven treatment of asthma. RECENT FINDINGS: Evidence is accumulating that even standard therapies such as inhaled corticosteroids benefit some groups of asthmatic patients more than others. Macrolide antibiotics and antifungal agents are examples of drugs that have established indications outside the field of airways disease but which may benefit a subset of patients with asthma. Finally, new and expensive biological therapies for asthma are emerging that may be highly efficacious, but only for a selected group of patients. SUMMARY: The emergence of novel therapies, in particular highly specific treatments, bring the promise of improving healthcare in asthma but present the challenge of choosing the right therapy for the right patient. Phenotype-driven treatment of asthma is emerging as a potential reality and will pave the way for personalized healthcare.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Asthma is a complex inflammatory disease and current therapy remains inadequate in many sufferers. There is phenotypic heterogeneity in its clinical expression as a consequence of gene-environment interactions and heterogeneity in response to therapy. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge on phenotype-driven treatment of asthma. RECENT FINDINGS: Evidence is accumulating that even standard therapies such as inhaled corticosteroids benefit some groups of asthmatic patients more than others. Macrolide antibiotics and antifungal agents are examples of drugs that have established indications outside the field of airways disease but which may benefit a subset of patients with asthma. Finally, new and expensive biological therapies for asthma are emerging that may be highly efficacious, but only for a selected group of patients. SUMMARY: The emergence of novel therapies, in particular highly specific treatments, bring the promise of improving healthcare in asthma but present the challenge of choosing the right therapy for the right patient. Phenotype-driven treatment of asthma is emerging as a potential reality and will pave the way for personalized healthcare.
Authors: Elizabeth A Jacobsen; Sergei I Ochkur; Alfred D Doyle; William E LeSuer; Wen Li; Cheryl A Protheroe; Dana Colbert; Katie R Zellner; HuaHao H Shen; Charles G Irvin; James J Lee; Nancy A Lee Journal: Am J Respir Crit Care Med Date: 2017-05-15 Impact factor: 21.405
Authors: Anne Fuhlbrigge; David Peden; Andrea J Apter; Homer A Boushey; Carlos A Camargo; James Gern; Peter W Heymann; Fernando D Martinez; David Mauger; William G Teague; Carol Blaisdell Journal: J Allergy Clin Immunol Date: 2012-03 Impact factor: 10.793
Authors: E A Jacobsen; W E Lesuer; L Willetts; K R Zellner; K Mazzolini; N Antonios; B Beck; C Protheroe; S I Ochkur; D Colbert; P Lacy; R Moqbel; J Appleton; N A Lee; J J Lee Journal: Allergy Date: 2013-11-25 Impact factor: 13.146
Authors: Chris Newby; Liam G Heaney; Andrew Menzies-Gow; Rob M Niven; Adel Mansur; Christine Bucknall; Rekha Chaudhuri; John Thompson; Paul Burton; Chris Brightling Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-07-24 Impact factor: 3.240