Severe asthma management in the era of biologics: insights of the Italian Registry on Severe Asthma (IRSA).

Summary: Background. The Italian Registry on Severe Asthma (IRSA) is the most recent and largestregistry in Italy. Objective. To improve the knowledge on the clinical and biological features of severe asthma (SA), and to monitor its treatments. Methods. To analyze clinical,functional, inflammatory, and treatment characteristics of severe asthmatics from the IRSA registry. Results. 851 subjects were enrolled. 31.8% and 64.5% of patients were submitted to oral corticosteroids (OCS), and monoclonal antibodies (MABs), respectively. At least tw ocomorbidities affected 77.4% patients. Asthma was uncontrolled in 62.2% patients. Uncontrolled patients had a higher frequency of exacerbations, and hospitalization, showing a highere osinophilic phenotype, a greater use of OCS, and being treated with MAB less frequently. However, uncontrolled patients treated with MAB had a lower use of OCS and a lower rateof hospitalization. Comparing SA patients with atopy and without atopy, the latter showeda greater use of OCS, and more frequent nasal polyposis and osteoporosis. Among SA patients with atopy treated with MAB, 36% were on a treatment targeting the IL-5 pathway. Conclusions and clinical relevance. This study shows the features of the greatest Italian registryof SA patients, revealing at the time of enrollment a poor disease control, and the use of OCSand MABs in about one third and two thirds of patients, respectively. SA is a complex diseasethat requires a more precise phenotyping and a greater disease control.

Relevance of TH2 Markers in the Assessment and Therapeutic Management of Severe Allergic Asthma: A Real-Life Perspective.

BACKGROUND: Although blood eosinophils are currently recognized as the main clinical marker of TH2-type inflammation, their relevance in identifying asthma severity remains a matter of debate. METHODS: Our retrospective real-life study on severe asthmatics included in the NEONet Italian database aimed to investigate the relevance of blood eosinophil count and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) in the clinical assessment of severe asthma and their role as potential predictors of responsiveness to anti-IgE therapy. The cut-off values chosen were 300 eosinophils/mm3 and FeNO of 30 ppm. RESULTS: We evaluated 132 adult patients. No significant differences were observed between the groups (high and low baseline eosinophil counts) in terms of demographic data, total IgE, lung function, patient-reported outcomes, or nasal comorbidities. The Asthma Control Test score and Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire scores were poorer in patients with FeNO ≥30 ppb than in patients with FeNO <30 ppb. In the high FeNO subgroup, more frequent hospital admissions and a higher number of working days lost in the previous year were registered. A combined score including both eosinophils and FeNO did not improve the accuracy of the individual parameters. In the high-eosinophil subgroup, the proportion of responders to omalizumab was greater and increased at each follow-up time point. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that blood eosinophil count is not an unequivocal marker of asthma severity, whereas a higher FeNO level is associated with more frequent hospital admissions and more working days lost. Blood eosinophils seem to act as a predictor of response to omalizumab.

Relevance of TH2 markers in the assessment and therapeutic management of severe allergic asthma: a real-life perspective

BACKGROUND: Although blood eosinophils are currently recognized as the main clinical marker of TH2-type inflammation, their relevance in identifying asthma severity remains a matter of debate. METHODS: Our retrospective real-life study on severe asthmatics included in the NEONet Italian database aimed to investigate the relevance of blood eosinophil count and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) in the clinical assessment of severe asthma and their role as potential predictors of responsiveness to anti-IgE therapy. The cut-off values chosen were 300 eosinophils/mm3 and FeNO of 30 ppm. RESULTS: We evaluated 132 adult patients. No significant differences were observed between the groups (high and low baseline eosinophil counts) in terms of demographic data, total IgE, lung function, patient-reported outcomes, or nasal comorbidities. The Asthma Control Test score and Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire scores were poorer in patients with FeNO ≥30 ppb than in patients with FeNO <30 ppb. In the high FeNO subgroup, more frequent hospital admissions and a higher number of working days lost in the previous year were registered. A combined score including both eosinophils and FeNO did not improve the accuracy of the individual parameters. In the high-eosinophil subgroup, the proportion of responders to omalizumab was greater and increased at each follow-up time point. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that blood eosinophil count is not an unequivocal marker of asthma severity, whereas a higher FeNO level is associated with more frequent hospital admissions and more working days lost. Blood eosinophils seem to act as a predictor of response to omalizumab

ANTECEDENTES: Aunque los eosinófilos en la sangre actualmente son reconocidos como el principal marcador clínico de la inflamación Th2, su relevancia en la identificación de la gravedad del asma sigue siendo un tema de debate. MÉTODOS: Nuestro estudio retrospectivo de la vida real sobre asmáticos graves, incluido en la base de datos italiana de NEONet, tuvo como objetivo investigar la relevancia del recuento de eosinófilos en sangre y el FeNO en la evaluación clínica del asma grave y su función como posible factor predictivo de la capacidad de respuesta al tratamiento con anti-IgE. Como valores de corte se eligieron 300 eosinófilos/mm3en sangre y 30 ppm para FeNO. RESULTADOS: En total se evaluaron 132 pacientes adultos. No se pudieron observar diferencias significativas entre los grupos de eosinófilos basales altos y bajos, en términos de datos demográficos, IgE total, función pulmonar, resultados informados por el paciente (PRO) o comorbilidades nasales. Los pacientes con ≥ FeNO 30 ppb mostraron una puntuación de ACT peor y una puntuación AQLQ más baja en comparación con los de FeNO <30 ppb. En el subgrupo de FeNO alto, se registraron ingresos hospitalarios con más frecuencia y un mayor número de días de trabajo perdidos en el último año. Una puntuación combinada que incluye tanto a los eosinófilos como el FeNO no mejoró la precisión de los parámetros individuales. En el subgrupo de eosinófilos altos, la proporción de pacientes que respondieron al tratamiento con omalizumab fue mayor y aumentó significativamente en cada punto de tiempo de seguimiento. CONCLUSIONES: De acuerdo con nuestros hallazgos, los eosinófilos en sangre no representan un marcador unívoco de la gravedad del asma, mientras que un nivel más alto de FeNO se asocia con más ingresos hospitalarios y más días de trabajo perdidos. Los eosinófilos de la sangre parecen actuar como predictores de la respuesta del tratamiento al omalizumab

Drop-out rate among patients treated with omalizumab for severe asthma: Literature review and real-life experience.

BACKGROUND: In patients with asthma, particularly severe asthma, poor adherence to inhaled drugs negatively affects the achievement of disease control. A better adherence rate is expected in the case of injected drugs, such as omalizumab, as they are administered only in a hospital setting. However, adherence to omalizumab has never been systematically investigated. The aim of this study was to review the omalizumab drop-out rate in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and real-life studies. A comparative analysis was performed between published data and the Italian North East Omalizumab Network (NEONet) database. RESULTS: In RCTs the drop-out rate ranged from 7.1 to 19.4 %. Although the reasons for withdrawal were only occasionally reported, patient decision and adverse events were the most frequently reported causes. In real-life studies the drop-out rate ranged from 0 to 45.5 %. In most cases lack of efficacy was responsible for treatment discontinuation. According to NEONet data, 32 % of treated patients dropped out, with an increasing number of drop outs observed over time. Patient decision and lack of efficacy accounted for most treatment withdrawals. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment adherence is particularly crucial in patients with severe asthma considering the clinical impact of the disease and the cost of non-adherence. The risk of treatment discontinuation has to be carefully considered both in the experimental and real-life settings. Increased knowledge regarding the main reasons for patient withdrawal is important to improve adherence in clinical practice.

Essential amino acid supplementation in patients with severe COPD: a step towards home rehabilitation.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary Rehabilitation ("Rehabilitation") can improve both lung function and quality of life in patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) even if only a very small proportion of patients have access to Rehabilitation. Supplementation of Essential Amino Acids (EAAs) might allow COPD patients to achieve some typical Rehabilitation outcomes such as a better physical performance and an improved health status. METHODS: 88 COPD out-patients (GOLD class 3-4) with a body mass index (BMI) < 23 Kg/m2 were randomised to receive EAAs (n = 44) or placebo (n = 44) for twelve weeks. Primary outcome measures were changes in both physical activities in daily life (measured by Sense Wear Armband in terms of mean steps walked in one week) and in quality of life (measured by the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire, SGRQ). RESULTS: After 12 weeks, the physical performance was significantly increased vs baseline only in patients who received EAAs (1140.33 +/- 524.69 and 638.68 +/- 662.1 steps/day, respectively; p = 0.02), being also the comparison vs the placebo group highly significant (p = 0.003). Similarly, the SGRQ score improved significantly only in EAA patients (69.35 +/- 9.51 vs baseline 72.04 +/- 8.62; p < 0.01), and changes were significantly different from those measured in the placebo group (p < 0.001). Furthermore, when compared to those who received placebo, EAAs patients significantly increased their fat-free mass (p = 0.04), muscle strength (p < 0.01), saturation of oxygen (p = 0.05), serum albumin (p < 0.001), and also ameliorated their original cognitive dysfunction (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Oral supplementation with EAAs contribute to improve the daily-life performance in domiciliary severe COPD patients who can not enter any Rehabilitation programme, together with their quality of life; nutritional and cognitive status, and muscle strength.

Cost-utility of add-on omalizumab in difficult-to-treat allergic asthma in Italy.

OBJECTIVE: Omalizumab (OM), an innovative biological treatment for difficult asthma with perennial sensitisations, is an humanized monoclonal anti-IgE antibody that binds free circulating IgE; inhibits mast cell and basophil activation by combining free IgE, leads to IgE receptor down-regulation, thus blocking the inflammatory cascade. AIM OF THE STUDY: To assess real-world cost-utility ofadd-on OM in Italy. METHODS: changes in clinical and economical outcomes, and in quality of life (QoL) associated with add-on OM in adults (n=23) with severe dfficult asthma were compared with those recorded before OM in the same subjects. Variables were: lung function; IgE levels; health status; ACT score; QoL (SGRQ); n. GP and specialist visits; emergency visits; hospitalizations, and concomitant pharmacological treatments. Further indices were: changes in Health-related QoL; total health-care costs, and incremental cost/utility. Data were statistically compared (Student's T test), and p < 0.01 was accepted for statistical significance. RESULTS: asthma clinical outcomes and patients' health-related quality of life improved significantly by adding OM, and both costs for drugs and hospital care dropped significantly (p < 0.01). The net economic effect was a 350 Euro increase in overall monthly costs; when related to health benefits, it corresponded to an incremental cost/utility ratio ofabout 26,000 Euro/QALY, which represents a quite favourable figure in terms of willingness to pay for health benefits in industrialised countries. CONCLUSIONS: Omalizumab added to an optimised therapy significantly improves clinical outcomes in difficult-to-treat, persistent allergic asthma. Costs also increased, but proved justified by health benefits achieved.

Reference urinary LTE4 levels in normal individuals: a pilot study.

UNLABELLED: The definition of reference normal values for urinary LTE4 still represents an open question. AIM: to assess the influence of gender and age on urinary LTE4 levels in normal individuals. METHODS: after their informed consent, urinary LTE4 was measured in 124 well matched, non smoker, non atopic subjects (mean age 49.5 y +/- 20.1 sd; range 4-85 y, 57 m;) without any clinically evident disease and not taking any drug for several months. In all subjects, urine were collected in the morning, and processed by an immunoenzimatic method (Cayman Chem, Mi, USA) via the Triturus system (Grifols, Spain). STATISTICS: t test, anova, linear regression, assuming p < 0.05. RESULTS: mean urinary LTE4 were 57.3 pg/ml in males (mean age 51.2 y +/- 21.3 sd) and 57.0 pg/ml in females (mean age 48.1 y + 19.1 sd), p = ns. Linear regression showed no relationship between urinary LTE4 levels and subjects' age in the whole sample of subjects. When subjects were divided according to 4 different classes of age (0-14; 15-40; 41-60; > 60), anova proved that mean urinary LTE4 levels were significantly different in the different classes of age, being higher in younger subjects (67.1 pg/ml +/- 33.4 sd; 69.8 pg/ml +/- 27.5 sd; 57.1 pg/ml +/- 25.4 sd, and 45.1 pg/ml +/- 24.9, respectively) (anova p < .002; Welch test p < .005). CONCLUSIONS: 1) gender does not affect urinary LTE4 levels in normals; 2) mean urinary LTE4 concentrations tend to a slight, but significant, decrease with the increase of the subjects' age, and this is clear in those over-60; 3) reference values for younger and older normal subjects (such as, under- and over-60 years) should be assumed accordingly.

Changes of clinical outcomes and health care resources in moderate and in severe COPD treated uniquely with tiotropium 18 mcg od for twenty-four months.

UNLABELLED: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex and progressive respiratory disease characterized by incompletely reversible bronchial obstruction. The effects of current therapeutic options in early stages of COPD have been poorly investigated in the past, being this specific topic revamped by the results of recent secondary analyses from large international trials. AIM: To measure and monitor in real life the changes in main clinical outcomes and health care resources in patients suffering from mild-to-moderate and severe COPD treated with only tiotropium br. for twenty-four months. METHODS: The population sample of the present observational retrospective study consists of 319 COPD subjects (214 males; average age 71.7 years ± 06 se) automatically extracted from the DataBase of the Health Care Institution. Inclusion criteria were: age ≥ 40 y; basal FEV1 < 80% predicted and FEV1/FVC < 70%; regular treatment with only 18 mcg tiotropium br. for the following two years. All subjects were divided into two subsets according to their FEV1 basal value: (Group A ≤ 50%, and Group B >50% predicted). Lung function; n. exacerbations; n. hospitalizations; absenteeism; n. GP's visits, and use of systemic steroids or antibiotics were checked during the observational period and mean values compared in both subsets with those of the twelve months preceding tiotropium br. (such as during other therapeutic strategies). T test was used for checking the comparability of groups, while ANOVA--Duncan test was used to compare the trends of all variables over time; p < 0.05 was accepted. RESULTS: Group A, 154 individuals (104 males; mean age 72.1 years ± 0.51 se) had a mean FEV1 value of 45.4% pred. ± 0.61 se, while the remaining 165, Group B (111 males; mean age 71.4 years ± 0.60 se) had a mean FEV1 value of 65.5% pred. ± 5.7 se (p < 0,01). The two subsets were well matched for gender, age, and previous use of systemic steroids, but significantly different in terms of basal lung function, COPD morbidity, and antibiotic use. Basically, the impact of COPD confirmed higher in severe patients even if it was unexpectedly remarkable in mild-to-moderate individuals in terms of consumption of health care resources. The overall reduction in COPD morbidity was significant in both groups, but the improvement in FEV1 and in other main long-term outcomes observed in subjects with mild-to-moderate COPD was particularly significant and substantial (p < 0.001), these subjects confirming to be worth of earlier therapeutic attention. CONCLUSIONS: 18 mcg tiotropium br. monotherapy for twenty-four months on a regular daily basis enables a significant minimization of COPD impact, and consents the progressive lung function recovery also in mild-to-moderate individuals, thus suggesting a possible role of tiotropium br. in affecting the natural history of COPD.

Use of aerosols in bronchiectasis patients.

Bronchiectasis is a chronic respiratory disease which recognises different etiologies, and characterised by persistent cough, bronchial hypersecretion, airway colonisation with Gram-negative pathogens; frequent infectious exacerbations; progressive lung function decline, and poor quality of life. Several therapeutic strategies are used for managing bronchiectasis, and nebulised medications are regarded with great and ever increasing interest because they allow the direct medication of targets airway structures, higher concentrations of the drug employed, and much less systemic effects. In general terms, the available therapeutic strategies lead to different results depending of whether bronchiectasis are related to cystic fibrosis or not. The effects of the main classes of drugs for aerosol delivery in bronchiectasis patients have been reviewed and updated. Further research is needed in order to ameliorate therapeutic interventions in bronchiectasis, both in terms of new molecules and aerosol formulations to use, and of systems able to optimize drug delivery and drug effectiveness.

Erdosteine affects eicosanoid production in COPD.

UNLABELLED: Oxidant-antioxidant imbalance and lipid peroxidation are known to activate the 5-LO pathway with increased expression of inflammatory eicosanoids. Erdosteine has recently shown important anti-oxidant properties, including the ability to reduce 8-isoprostane in COPD patients. AIM: To assess the effects of erdosteine (E) on eicosanoids, and to compare the time-course of effect with that of E anti-oxidant activity. METHODS: 12 moderate COPD patients (9 males, 60 - 78 y) randomly received E 300 mg b.i.d. or placebo (P) for 10 days in a double-blind, controlled design. Blood ROS (Fort/Units); serum LTB4 and urine LTE4 (pg/ml) were measured at baseline and after 1, 3, 5 and 10 days of treatment. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was performed. RESULTS: In COPD patients, both LTB4 and LTE4 dropped significantly during the 10-day treatment with E: s-LTB4 from 136.0 ± 35.4 SD to 54.5 ± 31.2 SD; u-LTE4 from 267.0 ± 91.5 SD to 84.0 ± 64.7 SD, p < 0.001 vs. p from Days 5 and 3, respectively. Moreover, a significant decrease of blood ROS was confirmed in patients using E. FEV1 values slightly increased during erdosteine treatment, whereas a trend to decrease was observed in the placebo group, with a significant difference in favor of erdosteine after 10 days of treatment (p = 0.0088). CONCLUSIONS: 1) The scavenging and anti-inflammatory effects of Erdosteine were both confirmed; 2) erdosteine proved to affect eicosanoids significantly; 3) this novel effect underlines the important anti-inflammatory potentialities of the drug in COPD; 4) further investigation is needed in order to assess the capability of Erdosteine in controlling ongoing inflammation in chronic respiratory diseases.

The prevalence of nasal polyps and the corresponding urinary LTE4 levels in severe compared to mild and moderate asthma.

BACKGROUND: Several comorbid conditions may contribute to worsening asthma symptoms, including nasal polyps (NPs). Cysteinyl leukotrienes (Cys-LTs) play a crucial role in asthma pathophysiology, and specific receptors for CysLTs are reported as upregulated in nasal polyp tissues. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of nasal polyps in severe vs. mild and moderate asthma, and to compare the corresponding levels of urinary Leukotriene E4 (LTE4). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cohort of 386 asthma patients were studied: n=166 with mild, n=146 with moderate and n=74 severe asthma. All patients performed a nasal endoscopy and urine were collected in the morning for the quantitative LTE4 immunoenzimatic assay (Cayman Chemical, MI, USA). Intolerance to ASA was also assessed by means of a nasal provocation test with L-ASA. RESULTS: The prevalence of NPs was the following: 8 cases (4.8%) in mild; 14 (9.6%) in moderate, and 33 (44.6%) in severe asthma. Mean urinary LTE4 levels were increasing according to the disease severity. ASA-intolerance was assessed in 1 patient in mild asthma (0.6%), 14 in moderate asthma (9.6%) and 28 in severe asthma (37.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Nasal polyps represent a comorbid which is highly frequent in severe asthma. Both their prevalence and the corresponding mean LTE4 levels in urine proved in strict, direct relationship with asthma severity. In severe asthma, nasal polyps represent a condition which is associated with the highest excretion of urinary LTE4 and ASA intolerance.

Comprehensive effects of supplemented essential amino acids in patients with severe COPD and sarcopenia.

AIM: Aim of the study was to investigate whether or not oral supplementation of essential amino acids (EAAs) may improve body composition, muscle metabolism, physical activity, cognitive function, and health status in a population of subjects with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and sarcopenia. METHODS: Thirty-two patients (25 males) (FEV1/FVC < 40% predicted), age 75 +/- 7 years, were randomised (n = 16 in both groups) to receive 4 gr/bid EAAs or placebo according to a double-blind design. When entered the study (T0), after four (T4), and after twelve (T12) weeks of treatments, body weight, fat free-mass (FFM), plasma lactate concentration (micromol/l), arterial PaCO2 and PaO2, physical activity (n degree steps/day), cognitive function (Mini Mental State Examination; MMSE), health status (St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire; SGRQ) were measured. RESULTS: EAAs supplemented, but not patients assuming placebo, progressively improved all baseline variables overtime. In particular, at T12 of EAAs supplementation, body weight (BW) increased by 6 Kg (p = 0.002), FFM by 3.6 Kg (p = 0.05), plasma lactate decreased from 1.6 micromol/l to 1.3 micromol/l (p = 0.023), PaO2 increased by 4.6 mmHg (p = 0.01), physical activity increased by 80% (p = 0.01). Moreover, the score for cognitive dysfunction improved from 19.1 scores to 20.8 (p = 0.011), while the SRGQ score also improved from 723 to 69.6 even though this trend did not reach the statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS. A three-month EAAs supplementation may have comprehensive effects on nutritional status; muscle energy metabolism; blood oxygen tension, physical autonomy; cognitive function, and perception of health status in patients with severe COPD and secondary sarcopenia.

Changes in blood ROS, e-NO, and some pro-inflammatory mediators in bronchial secretions following erdosteine or placebo: a controlled study in current smokers with mild COPD.

UNLABELLED: Anti-oxidant interventions consist in reduction of direct oxidant damage by removing oxidant agents and/or by supplementing reducing agents with anti-oxidant effects. AIM: Aim of the present study was to investigate the anti-oxidant effects of erdosteine, a recent drug currently used in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for its rheological activity. At present, no data are available on current smokers with COPD to our knowledge. METHODS: Two groups of 10 persons matched for sex; age (65.0 yr+/-8.4 S.D. and 65.3 yr+/-6.5 S.D.); basal FEV1 (88.7% pred +/-6.8 S.D. and 85.2% pred +/-5.8 S.D.); and cigarette consumption (25.4 pack/yr+/-3.5 S.D. and 28.1 pack/yr+/-2.3 S.D.) entered a controlled, double blind, parallel groups study. They were randomized to receive erdosteine 600 mg daily or placebo for 10 days. IL-6; IL-8; TNFalpha were measured in bronchial secretions in bsln, after 4, 7, and 10 days of Erdosteine or placebo; e-NO and both ROS and 8-Isoprostane in blood were also measured at the same experimental times. STATISTICS: ANOVA: a t-test with Bonferroni correction; p<0.05 was accepted. RESULTS: Blood ROS and IL-8 in bronchial secretions dropped significantly following erdosteine starting from day 4 (both p<0.01), while 8-isoprostane drop was significant only after day 10 (p<0.02), and the e-NO decrease proved evident but not significant. No significant changes were observed in the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: Erdosteine affects substantially some pro-inflammatory cytokines specifically involved in oxidative stress in current smokers with mild COPD. Effects appeared differently time-dependent. Further long-term studies are needed to confirm these pilot data and to assess their long-term clinical relevance.

Costs of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Italy: the SIRIO study (social impact of respiratory integrated outcomes).

Chronic respiratory diseases affect a large number of subjects in Italy and are characterized by high socio-health costs. The aim of the Social Impact of Respiratory Integrated Outcomes (SIRIO) study was to measure the health resources consumption and costs generated in 1 year by a population of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in a real-life setting. This bottom-up, observational, prospective, multicentric study was based on the collection of demographic, clinical, diagnostic, therapeutic and outcome data from COPD patients who reported spontaneously to pneumological centers participating in the study, the corresponding economic outcomes being assessed at baseline and after a 1-year survey. A total of 748 COPD patients were enrolled, of whom 561 [408 m, mean age 70.3 years (SD 9.2)] were defined as eligible by the Steering Committee. At the baseline visit, the severity of COPD (graded according to GOLD 2001 guidelines) was 24.2% mild COPD, 53.7% moderate and 16.8% severe. In the 12 months prior to enrollment, 63.8% visited a general practitioner (GP); 76.8% also consulted a national health service (NHS) specialist; 22.3% utilized Emergency Care and 33% were admitted to hospital, with a total of 5703 work days lost. At the end of the 1-year survey, the severity of COPD changed as follows: 27.5% mild COPD, 47.4% moderate and 19.4% severe. Requirement of health services dropped significantly: 57.4% visited the GP; 58.3% consulted an NHS specialist; 12.5% used Emergency Care and 18.4% were hospitalized. Compared to baseline, the mean total cost per patient decreased by 21.7% (p<0.002). In conclusion, a significant reduction in the use of health resources and thus of COPD-related costs (both direct and indirect costs) was observed during the study, likely due to a more appropriate care and management of COPD patients.

PIKO-1, an effective, handy device for the patient's personal PEFR and FEV1 electronic long-term monitoring.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Subjects with airway obstruction are strongly recommended to monitor their lung function, which is particularly variable in asthma. Unlike PEFR, other personal measurements (such as FEV1) are still difficult to perform. PIKO-1 is the first electronic device for both PEFR and FEV1 personal check, but its precision has not yet been assessed. The aim of this study was to compare PEFR and FEV1 values from PIKO-1 and from a conventional spirometer in subjects with airway obstruction. METHODS: In total, 352 subjects (217 men; 47.6 +/- 19.0 years; 72.6 +/- 15.0 kg; 168.1 +/- 11.9 cm) performed sequential measurements using a PIKO-1 device and a spirometer. Wilcoxon signed-rank test and sign test were used as statistical tests. RESULTS: Mean FEV1 values from the spirometer and PIKO-1, respectively, were 2.9 L +/- 1.1 and 3.0 L +/- 1.1, and mean PEFR values were 466.1 L/min +/- 164.5 SD and 426.3 L/min +/- 151.6 SD. PIKO-1 proved to overestimate FEV1 values by 4% (p<0.0001) and to underestimate PEFR values by 8% (p<0.000) systematically. CONCLUSIONS: The precision of both PIKO-1 measurements (such as FEV1 and PEFR) have been assessed. PEFR and FEV1 measures should be reset by two different constants. Nevertheless, PIKO-1 is a suitable and reliable device for the personal monitoring of obstructive patients in real life.

Urinary LTE4 is higher after nasal provocation test with L-ASA in bronchial than in only nasal responders.

UNLABELLED: Aspirin induced asthma (AIA) is a syndrome characterised by intolerance to acetylsalycilic acid (ASA), nasal polyps and bronchial asthma, being the metabolic shift of arachidonic acid toward the lipoxygenase pathway and hyper-production of cysteinyl-leukotrienes (cys-LTs) the current pathogenetic hypothesis. The research for both sensitive indicators and safe diagnostic tests is still attracting. Aim of the study was to compare the levels of urinary LTE4 in baseline and after Nasal Provocation Test (NPT) with L-ASA from subjects affected by aspirinin-Intolerance and characterized by only a nasal response to ASA to those from subjects with both a nasal and a bronchial response to the same challenge. METHODS: After their written consent, 74 subjects with mill to moderate AIA (16 male, mean age 45.3 years +/- 12.3 sd, mean basal FEV1 = 78.1% pred. +/- 6.2.4sd, FEV1 reversibility = 14.3% bsln +/- 2.1 ds after salbutamol 200 mcg) performed a NPT with L-ASA (total maximal dose 25 mg). Spirometry (FEV1), acoustic rinometry (nasal volume--VOL; nasal Resistance--Req; AR; TM Hood Lab., USA), and urinary LTE4 (Cayman Chemical, MI, USA, via Triturus System, Grifols, Spain) were checked in all subjects in basal conditions and 90' after NPT. STATISTICS: t test between means +/- sd, assuming p < 0.05, and linear regression between all variables considered. RESULTS: In 69 ASA-intolerant-asthmatics, mean FEV1 did not change significantly following NPT (78.7% pred. +/- 5.1 sd in baseline; 78.5% pred. +/- 4.1 sd after NPT, p = ns) even though in the presence of a significant decrease of VOL. (12.6 cm3 +/- 4.1 sd in baseline; 6.2 cm3 +/- 4.6 sd after NPT, p = 0.003); of a substantial increase in Req (0.9 cm H2O/l/min +/- 0.1 ds in baseline; 2.4 cmH2O/l/min +/- 0.2 after NPT, p = 0.04), and of urinary LTE4 excretion (333.0 pg/mg +/- 161.7 in bsln; 558.0 pg/mg +/- 171.690' after NPT with L-SA, p = 0.02). In only 5 subjects, the nasal response occurred concomitantly to a significant bronco-constriction after the NPT: mean FEV, changed from 77.9% pred. +/- 3.9 in bsln to 46.6% pred. +/- 4.3 after NPT (p < 0.001); mean VOL from 13.9 cm3 +/- 4.7 sd to 5.6 cm3 +/- 2.8 sd (p < 0.001); mean Req from 1.1 cmH2O/l/min +/- 0.2 in bsln to 2.5 cmH2O/l/min +/- 0.4 after NPT (p = 0.02) in these subjects. In ASA-intolerant bronchial responders, the severity of respiratory reactions proved related to the extent of urinary LTE4 response, which on the other hand, proved significantly higher than that observed in ASA-intolerant subjects with only nasal response and in ASA-tolerant subjects (LTE4 from 333.0 pg/mg +/- 161.7 in baseline up to 558.0 pg/mg +/- 171.6 90 min. following the NPT with L-ASA the nasal-responders, p = 0.04, but from 412.0 pg/mg +/- 102.8 in baseline up to 978.0 pg/mg +/- 108.7 after NPT in bronchial responders, p < 0.001 from baseline). CONCLUSIONS: Nasal challenge with ASA affects significantly both nasal VOL and Req, and LTE4 excretion in all ASA-intolerant subjects. During the nasal challenge, severity of respiratory reactions proves associated with the highest basal LTE4 synthesis. This feature reflects a spectrum of respiratory tract reactions where cysteinil-LTs can play a specific diagnostic role.

The therapeutic effects of inhaled long-acting beta2-adrenergics (LABA) and corticosteroids (ICS) are not affected by their inhalation sequence in moderate/persistent asthma.

UNLABELLED: Bronchial asthma is defined as "a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways involving many cells" and inhaled corticosteroids have therefore become the fundamental drugs for the long-term management of the disease. In moderate and severe persistent asthma the use of a long-acting bronchodilator is recommended in order to control symptoms and to enhance the efficacy of corticosteroids. Although not based on scientific evidence, it has been assumed that the, 2 adrenergic and the inhaled steroid should be administered in a strict inhalation sequence: the bronchodilatator first and then the steroid. The aim of the study was to assess the effects of this assumption experimentally, common indeed since long ago. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve subjects with moderate-persistent asthma (7 males, aged 18-64, basal FEV1 = 65.59% pred. +/- 7.59 ds; reversibility = + 14.8% +/- 8.3 ds from baseline after Salbutamol 200mg), symptomatic despite the regular home treatment with Fluticasone p. 250mg bid and beta 2 short-acting prn for over 6 weeks, were initially treated with combined SM/FP 50/250mg bid from an unique Diskus" device, for 6 weeks. After this initial phase, the treatment continued according to a randomised, double-blind, cross-over design: all subjects received the same drugs, from two different Diskus" inhalers, and according to two different sequences of administration: 1) SM first and FP 20' later for 4 weeks, and then FP first and SM 20' later for a further 4 weeks; 2) vice versa. No wash-out period was included between these two phases of cross-over treatment. FEV1 (% pred.); morning PEF (L/min), the use of short-acting beta 2 as required (n/week); the number of awakenings at night (n/week), and the daytime asthma symptom score were measured. STATISTICS: The t paired test and anova (Duncan test) were used for statistical comparisons: a p<0.05 was accepted as the minimum level of significance. RESULTS: After the first six weeks of treatment with combined Salmeterol/Fluticasone, 50/250 mg FEV1 changed from 69.6% pred. +/- 7.59 ds to 79.8% pred. +/- 10.1 ds (p>0.005), whilst the morning PEF changed from 282.2 l/min : 64.1 ds to 333.4 l/min +/- 55.5 ds (p<0.02). Furthermore, the consumption of beta 2 adrenergic prn dropped from 4.4 (no./week) +/- 7.3 ds to 1.2 +/- 0.9 ds (p<0.001); the number of night-time awakenings decreased from 1.6 (no./week) +/- 0.2 ds to 0.2 +/- 0.3 ds (p<0.001), and the daytime symptom score changed from 3.4 +/- ds 0.8 to 1.9 +/- 0.7 ds (p<0.001). This therapeutic performance was maintained over the two subsequent 4-week periods of treatment from two distinct devices independently of the inhalation sequence. In particular, by both using salmeterol first or using fluticasone first, the therapeutic effects proved quite identical: FEV1: 80.7 % pred. +/- 9.5 ds and 80.3 +/- 7.4 ds; morning PEF: 336.5 l/min +/- 55.4 ds and 338.6 l/min +/- 67.1 ds; consumption of beta 2 adrenergic as required: 0.9 (no./week) +/- 0.6 ds and 0.9 (no./week) +/- 0.8 ds; number of awakenings: 0.3 (no./week) +/- 0.3 and 0.2 (no./week) +/- 0.3 ds; day-time/night-time symptom score: 1.7 +/- 0.5 ds and 1.8 +/- 0.6 ds, respectively (anova = ns). CONCLUSIONS: Both in terms of lung function and of clinical outcomes the efficacy of SM and FP administration proved completely independent of the particular sequence for their separate inhalation and quite superimposable to thatachieved b y their combined inhalation from an unique device.

Nasal and bronchial tolerability of Rofecoxib in patients with aspirin induced asthma.

UNLABELLED: Aspirin (ASA) and several other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) inhibit cyclo-oxygenase (COX) enzyme both isoforms 1 and 2, and can precipitate asthmatic attacks in aspirin-induced asthmatics. Rofecoxib (R) is a novel and specific COX-2 inhibitor which is caracterized by an highly selective COX-2 inhibition, and can be presumed as non cross-reactive with ASA. Aim of the study was to assess the bronchial and the nasal response to R in AIA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nineteen subjects with AIA (21-54 years, 7 m, mean FEV1 85.1% pred. +/- 5.4 sd) performed two oral provocation tests: one with increasing doses of ASA and one other of R at a time interval of 2 weeks, according to a randomized, cross-over design. The bronchial and the nasal responses were measured by serial measures of FEV1, and of nasal resistences by acoustic rhinomanometry, respectively. STATISTICS: Anova for trends was used, and p<0.05 accepted. RESULTS: Mean ASA PD20 was 68.3 mg +/- 12.4 sd. ASA induced a significant broncho-constriction in all patients with AIA: basal FEV1 dropped from 88.9% pred. +/- 6.2sd to 70.1% pred. +/- 6.9sd after 60 min. (Anova p = 0.001). Despite ASA, R was well tolerated: basal FEV1 remained unchanged during the period of observation following the R 25mg ingestion. ASA also precipitated a significant nasal response with increased nasal resistances (anova p < 0.001) and reduced volumes (anova p < 0.001). The nasal function was unchanged following R 25mg. CONCLUSIONS: Despite ASA, Rofecoxib, largely due to its highly specificity for COX-2, proved a drug particularly safe in treating patients with AIA.

Aspirin induced asthma (AIA) with nasal polyps has the highest basal LTE4 excretion: a study vs AIA without polyps, mild topic asthma, and normal controls.

UNLABELLED: Cysteinil Leukotrienes (LTs) are products of the arachidonic acid cascade which are synthetised by 5-lipoxigenase in inflammatory cells, particularly in eosinophils. Urinary leukotriene E4 concentration (LTE4), that reflects the whole body production of cysteinil-leukotrienes, is particularly increased in patients with aspirin-intolerant asthma (AIA). Aim of the present study was to assess basal urinary LTE4 levels from AIA patients with nasal polyps to those from AIA patients with only rhinitis (without polyps), and those from mild atopic asthmatics and normal controls. SUBJECTS & METHODS: 34 normal subjects (N; 19 - 57y, FEV1 = 102.1% pred. +/- 8.2 sd; negative MCh challenge; negative prick test); 39 mild-persistent atopic asthmatics (A; 18-66y, FEV1 = 92.1 %pred. +/- 14.6 sd; PD20 FEV1 = 380.7mcg +/- 481.2 sd); 24 subjects with AIA with rhinitis (AIA/R; 18 - 56y, FEV1 = 71.6%pred +/- 15.5 sd; reversibility = 15.1% bsln +/- 2.1 sd after salbutamol 200mg), and 10 subjects with AIA and nasal polyposis (AIA/NP; 22-49 y; FEV1 = 70.6%pred. +/- 7.1 sd; reversibility = 13.2% bsln +/- 1.6 sd after salbutamol 200 microg) were studied. After their informed consent, urine were collected in the morning for the LTE4 quantitative immunoenzimatic assay (pg/mg creatinine; Cayman Chemical, Ann Arbour, Mi, USA). STATISTICS: Wilcoxon signed rank test was used, and p<0.05 accepted as the lowest level of statistical significance. RESULTS: AIA/NP subjects had the highest levels of urinary LTE4 (432.3 pg/mg +/- 88.1 sd) compared to AIA/R (330.7 pg/mg +/- 72.3s, p < 0.01), to A (129.1 pg/mg +/- 74.8sd, p < 0.001), and to N controls (66.5 pg/mg +/- 20.6 sd, p < 0.001). Moreover, urinary LTE4 levels measured in AIA/R subjects proved significantly higher than those measured in A (p < 0.001) and in N controls (p<0.001), while LTE4 levels in A proved significantly higher than those in N controls (p<0.001). Furthermore, basal LTE4 levels seem inversely related to those of basal FEV1 (102.1 % pred. +/- 8.2sd in N, 92.1 % pred +/- 14.6 sd in A, 71.6 % pred. +/- 15.5 sd in AIA/R, 70.6 % pred +/- 7.1 sd in AIA/P, respectively). Respiratory function in the two sub-groups of AIA patients proved reduced than in atopic asthmatics (p<0.001) and in normal controls (p < 0.001), even though the difference between these two subgroups of subjects did not reach the statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Cys-LTs confirm their relevant pathogenetic role in AIA, but also in early stages of atopic asthma. Urinary LTE4 exexcretion proves directly proportional to the extent of nasal structural changes occurring in ASA-intolerant asthmatics, being subjects with nasal polyps those with the highest LTE4 values, immediately followed by those with hypertrophic rhinitis. Routinary measurements of urinary LTE4 should be regarded as a sensitive indicator in monitoring the clinical evolution of nasal involvement in AIA.