Alternatives to induced sputum for identifying inflammatory subtypes of asthma.

Journal article

Current Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines recognise the benefits of assessing airway inflammation in asthma management (Shown in Box 1) and support the identification of eosinophilic asthma and offers phenotype specific treatments such as mepolizamab, reducing eosinophilia, reducing the incidence of severe exacerbations and offering reduced requirement for oral corticosteroids (1) . Farias et al ask the question which sample type is best for phenotyping asthma. The answer is complex and depends on the purpose of phenotyping asthma, which may differ between the best for clinical management and treatment decision making compared with the best for understanding mechanisms.

Authors: Simpson, J; Bafadhel, M

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Reviewed (other)
• Publisher: Wiley
• Journal: Respirology
• Volume: 22
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 624-625
• Publication date: 2017-03-01
• Acceptance date: 2017-03-06
• DOI: 10.1111/resp.13036
• EISSN: 1440-1843
• ISSN: 1323-7799
• Language: English
• Keywords: peripheral blood; eosinophil; asthma; sputum; nasal wash