Asthma has traditionally been viewed as a single disease, but recent research reveals its clinical and molecular complexity. This perspective highlights the need to shift from a traditional, uniform treatment paradigm to one that embraces the heterogeneity of asthma across individuals. Each patient presents a unique clinical story shaped by a complex interplay of genetic predispositions, developmental programming during critical early-life windows, the influence of sex and hormones, and lifelong environmental exposures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSmall airway dysfunction (SAD) plays a critical role in the management of severe asthma, particularly in patients at risk of requiring biological therapies (BTs). Short-term studies have shown that switching to single-inhaler triple therapy (SITT) with extrafine beclomethasone-formoterol-glycopyrronium improves outcomes and helps achieve quiet asthma, a state marked by symptom control, no exacerbations or oral steroids, reduced inflammation, and better small airway function. This study investigated whether, over one year, patients could maintain this state as Steady Quiet Asthma (SQA) and whether baseline measures could predict this sustained response.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWorld Allergy Organ J
August 2025
Although 90% of asthmatic patients suffer from mild and moderate disease, little is known about the burden on health status and quality of life, the long-term trajectory of disease severity, and the socio-economic impact. The Mild Moderated Asthma Network of Italy (MANI) is a real-world, cross-sectional, prospective, observational cohort study designed to explore these issues. Here we aimed to provide an identikit of asthmatic patients receiving treatment according to GINA steps 1-4, and enrolled in the centers of excellence participating in the MANI.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a highly prevalent sleep-related breathing disorder, primarily characterized by recurrent episodes of upper airway obstruction during sleep. Individuals affected by OSA are at increased risk for a variety of adverse health outcomes, particularly neurocognitive impairments and cardiovascular complications, highlighting the clinical significance of this condition. A defining feature of OSA is intermittent hypoxemia, which contributes to the excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the subsequent development of oxidative stress.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Severe asthma is a complex disease with persistent symptoms despite high-dose inhaled therapy. Tezepelumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), has shown efficacy across asthma phenotypes. However, identifying early responders remains a challenge.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExhaled breath analysis using electronic noses (e-noses) is a promising non-invasive diagnostic tool. However, a lack of standardized protocols limits clinical implementation. This study evaluates the consistency of breathprints in healthy subjects using the Cyranose 320 e-nose to support standardization efforts.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Asthma exacerbations are often triggered by factors such as respiratory infections, allergens, exercise, and airway irritants, significantly affecting patients' respiratory symptoms and quality of life. Effective management of triggers is crucial in severe asthma care. Tezepelumab, an anti-thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) monoclonal antibody, can effectively reduce severe asthma exacerbations and symptoms burden.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAsthma is a prevalent chronic condition, affecting an estimated 260 million people worldwide, according to the 2021 Global Burden of Disease Study. This condition significantly impacts individuals of all ages. One notable finding is that asthma prevalence among adults was higher in females than males.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Positive airway pressure (PAP) treatment for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is often burdened by lower adherence rates. Patients' perception and acceptance of PAP therapy play a crucial role in achieving acceptable adherence.
Method: We conducted a prospective cohort study to assess patients' initial impressions of PAP therapy using a six-item questionnaire.
Background: Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by airway inflammation and variable respiratory symptoms. While peripheral muscle deconditioning is known to affect lung function and exercise tolerance, the role of respiratory muscle dysfunction, particularly the diaphragm, remains underexplored.
Objective: We aim to evaluate potential differences in diaphragm function in patients with asthma.
J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract
June 2025
Background: A transient and usually asymptomatic increase in blood eosinophil count (BEC) associated with dupilumab treatment has been described. Predicting factors related to the increase in BEC and the occurrence of symptoms are still poorly investigated.
Objective: To investigate frequency, timing, duration, clinical relevance, and potential predictors of the increase in BEC in a real-life multicenter cohort of patients affected by asthma and/or chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) treated with dupilumab.
Objective: It remains unclear whether baseline FeNO levels can predict response to anti-IL5/5R biologic treatment in patients with severe asthma.
Methods: We recruited 104 patients with severe eosinophilic asthma treated with anti-IL5/anti-IL5R for at least one year who had measured FeNO values before the beginning of anti-eosinophilic treatment. Population was divided into subjects with FeNO < 25 and ≥25 ppb.
J Clin Med
October 2024
This study evaluated the impact of continuous positive airway pressure (C-PAP) therapy combined with a rigorous diet regimen on obese patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Sixty obese patients (BMI ≥ 30) diagnosed with severe OSAS were recruited in order to establish the evaluation of CPAP therapy with different extents of adherence to a rigorous diet regimen. After one year, significant improvements were observed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Clin Med
October 2024
Patients with severe asthma (SA) and non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (BE) without microbiological colonization represent a unique and understudied population. Type 2-targeted biologic therapies have emerged as a promising treatment for these patients. However, predictive factors for achieving clinical remission remain unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study investigates volatile organic compound (VOC) profiles in the exhaled breath of normal subjects under different oxygenation conditions-normoxia (FiO2 21%), hypoxia (FiO2 11%), and hyperoxia (FiO2 35%)-using an electronic nose (e-nose). We aim to identify significant differences in VOC profiles among the three conditions utilizing principal component analysis (PCA) and canonical discriminant analysis (CDA). Our results indicate distinct VOC patterns corresponding to each oxygenation state, demonstrating the potential of e-nose technology in detecting physiological changes in breath composition (cross-validated accuracy values: FiO2 21% vs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a prevalent disorder characterized by repetitive upper airway obstructions during sleep, leading to intermittent hypoxia and sleep fragmentation. Current treatments, particularly Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), face adherence challenges, necessitating novel therapeutic approaches. : This review explores the potential of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA), commonly used for type 2 diabetes and obesity, in managing OSA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Severe asthma presents significant management challenges, often requiring advanced treatments to control symptoms and reduce exacerbations. The use of monoclonal antibodies has revolutionized the clinical course of patients with severe asthma, showing a significant impact on exacerbations reduction, oral corticosteroids (OCS) cessation and on the improvement of lung function and quality of life. Tezepelumab, an anti-thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) monoclonal antibody, has emerged as a potential therapeutic option for these patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Allergy Clin Immunol Pract
December 2024
Background: Biological therapies, such as mepolizumab, have transformed the treatment of severe eosinophilic asthma. Although mepolizumab's short-term effectiveness is established, there is limited evidence on its ability to achieve long-term clinical remission.
Objective: To evaluate the long-term effectiveness and safety of mepolizumab, explore its potential to induce clinical and sustained remission, and identify baseline factors associated with the likelihood of achieving remission over 24 months.
Introduction: Neuromuscular diseases (NMD) include different types of diseases depending on the deficient component of the motor unit involved. They may all be interested by a progressive and sometimes irreversible pump respiratory failure which unfortunately for some NMD may start soon after the diagnosis. Within this vast group of patients those affected by muscle diseases are a subgroup who comprises patients with an average earlier onset of symptoms compared to other NMD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Near-fatal asthma (NFA) is a severe condition that can lead to respiratory arrest or high carbon dioxide levels, often requiring mechanical ventilation. Biologics have revolutionized the management of severe asthma, significantly improving symptom severity, reducing the number of exacerbations and hospitalizations, and decreasing the need for oral corticosteroids. However, their effectiveness in acute settings, particularly for ICU patients experiencing severe respiratory failure, is not well-studied.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEpithelial barrier damage plays a central role in the development and maintenance of allergic inflammation. Rises in the epithelial barrier permeability of airways alter tissue homeostasis and allow the penetration of allergens and other external agents. Different factors contribute to barrier impairment, such as eosinophilic infiltration and allergen protease action-eosinophilic cationic proteins' effects and allergens' proteolytic activity both contribute significantly to epithelial damage.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Breath Res
June 2024
Analyzing exhaled volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with an electronic nose (e-nose) is emerging in medical diagnostics as a non-invasive, quick, and sensitive method for disease detection and monitoring. This study investigates if activities like spirometry or physical exercise affect exhaled VOCs measurements in asthmatics and healthy individuals, a crucial step for e-nose technology's validation for clinical use. The study analyzed exhaled VOCs using an e-nose in 27 healthy individuals and 27 patients with stable asthma, before and after performing spirometry and climbing five flights of stairs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Objective: Several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have shown that benralizumab is characterized by a good profile of efficacy and safety, thereby being potentially able to elicit clinical remission on-treatment of severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA). The main goal of this multicentre observational study was to verify the effectiveness of benralizumab in inducing a sustained remission on-treatment of SEA in patients with or without comorbid chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP).
Methods: Throughout 2 years of treatment with benralizumab, a four-component evaluation of sustained remission of SEA was performed, including the assessment of SEA exacerbations, use of oral corticosteroids (OCSs), symptom control and lung function.