title: Severe refractory asthma: an update.
abstract: Asthma is a heterogeneous disease in which adequate asthma control cannot be achieved in a substantial proportion despite currently available treatment possibilities. This subgroup has been defined as "severe refractory" asthma. Over the past years considerable progress has been made regarding a more exact definition of severe refractory asthma. A systematic approach to evaluate the asthma patient has been postulated. Further detailed classification into distinct phenotypes is ongoing to target the right treatment to the right patient. And, new therapeutic targeted treatment options are currently in development to provide possible new targets to improve disease state, symptoms and quality of life. This review will provide an update on the latest advancements with regard to all these domains.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Respiratory Medicine, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. r.r.wener@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: Reinier R L
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Wener
authors.forename: Elisabeth H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Bel
mesh_terms: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004351:Drug Resistance; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010641:Phenotype; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents