New treatments for asthma: current and future aspects.
Inhaled beta 2-agonists continue to be the mainstay of asthma therapy, along with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). A recent advance has been the recognition that 'add-on' or adjunctive therapies to ICS, such as long-acting beta 2-agonists and leukotriene antagonists, are a superior option to increased doses of ICS. Traditionally, inhaled beta 2-agonists and ICS have been administered via separate devices, but combined administration of a long-acting inhaled beta 2-agonist and an ICS by a single inhaler has recently become available in clinical practice. For the future, biotechnology is providing a number of potential therapies for asthma that are directed against some of the inflammatory mediators, such as immunoglobulin E and interleukin-4 and -5, thought to be involved in the pathophysiology of the disease. These biotechnological therapies may eventually provide the opportunity to tailor treatment to the needs of individual patients, and to manipulate the immune system away from allergic responses.
Hansel
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TT
National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI), Clinical Studies Unit, Imperial College, and Royal Brompton Hospital, London, UK. t.hansel@ic.ac.uk
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology*; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000276:immunology*; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D019948:Receptors, Interleukin-4 / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015848:Interleukin-5; D019948:Receptors, Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E