Improving the diagnosis of eosinophilic asthma.
Diagnosing eosinophilic asthma is important, because uncontrolled eosinophilic airway inflammation is associated with reduced response to glucocorticoids and increased risk of severe exacerbations.



Currently, the diagnosis of eosinophilic asthma is based on measurements of sputum eosinophils, which is time consuming and requires specific technical expertise. Therefore, biomarkers such as blood eosinophils, FeNO, serum IgE and periostin are being used as surrogates. These biomarkers can be used separately or in combination, and their accuracy to detect sputum eosinophilia depends on cut-off values. The demonstration of eosinophils in sputum is no guarantee for response to treatment with current biological agents targeting Type 2 inflammation, because several molecular pathways may lead to eosinophilic inflammation. In the near future, the results of large trials using 'omics' technologies will certainly identify new, more 'upstream' biomarkers of eosinophilic inflammation, that will ultimately lead to the ideal targeted treatment for patients with eosinophilic asthma. Expert commentary: Of currently used surrogate markers to diagnose eosinophilic asthma, blood eosinophils and FeNO have the highest diagnostic accuracy, in particular if used in combination to rule in or rule out eosinophilic asthma. For patients who cannot be classified by these biomarkers alone, the clinical profile may be of help.
a Department of Respiratory Medicine, Academic Medical Centre , University of Amsterdam , Amsterdam , The Netherlands.
Hanneke
H
Coumou
a Department of Respiratory Medicine, Academic Medical Centre , University of Amsterdam , Amsterdam , The Netherlands.
Elisabeth H
EH
Bel
D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D011657:Pulmonary Eosinophilia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy
D015415:Biomarkers
Asthma; IgE; anti IL-13; anti IL-5; anti-IL-4R-alpha; anti-IgE; diagnosis; eosinophils; fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO); periostin; type 2 inflammation