title: Clinical and biological markers of asthma control.
abstract: Asthma has substantial impact on the patient, their family and health systems, and its control has gained increasing attention. Perception of asthma control has varied widely among patients as well as healthcare providers. Several clinical markers have been developed to define and standardize the measurement of asthma control. They are based primarily on patients' symptoms and have been popular in clinical practice and in clinical studies. With the advances in basic research on the pathology of asthma, several biological markers have evolved that have the advantages of being objective, quantitative and more reflective of the underlying pathology, which makes them a better guide for selecting optimal therapy. In addition to the cost and expertise required, biological makers are influenced by multiple factors that limit their application in clinical practice. Ongoing research is expected to define the role of individual biological markers, the optimal method of their application, and their appropriate interpretation.
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Immunology Section, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, LA 71130-3932, USA.
authors.forename: Hana M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Tartibi
authors.forename: Sami L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Bahna
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Asthma Control Questionnaire; Asthma Control Test; GINA; JTFPP; NAEPP; asthma control; asthma evaluation; asthma markers; eosinophil cationic protein; exhaled nitric oxide; serum periostin; sputum eosinophils; urinary leukotriene E4