title: Predictive markers of asthma exacerbation during stepwise dose reduction of inhaled corticosteroids.
abstract: To determine predictors for failed reduction of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), in 50 subjects with well-controlled asthma (age 43.7 [18-69]; 22 males) taking a median dose of 1,000 microg ICS/d (100-3,600 microg/d), ICS were halved every 8 wk. Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) to a bronchial provocation test (BPT) with histamine was measured at baseline. AHR to BPT with mannitol, spirometry, exhaled nitric oxide (eNO), and, in 31 subjects, sputum inflammatory cells were measured at baseline and at monthly intervals. Thirty-nine subjects suffered an asthma exacerbation. Seven subjects were successfully weaned off ICS. Using a Kaplan- Meier survival analysis, the significant predictors of a failure of ICS reduction were being hyperresponsive to both histamine and mannitol at baseline (p = 0.039), and being hyperresponsive to mannitol during the dose-reduction phase of the study (p = 0.02). Subjects older than 40 yr of age tended to be at greater risk of ICS reduction failure (p = 0.059). Response to mannitol and percentage sputum eosinophils were significantly greater before a failed ICS reduction than before the last successful ICS reduction, whereas there were no significant differences in symptoms, spirometry, or eNO. These findings suggest that documentation of patient's AHR or sputum eosinophils may be useful in guiding the reduction of ICS doses.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Respiratory Medicine, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. jleuppi@uhbs.ch
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Leuppi
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Salome
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xuan
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koskela
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Brannan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Freed
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Woolcock
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001944:Breath Tests; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000175:diagnosis; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006632:Histamine; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008353:Mannitol; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013183:Sputum / Q000276:immunology; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D017211:Treatment Failure
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008353:Mannitol; D006632:Histamine