How Effective and Safe Is Bronchial Thermoplasty in "Real Life" Asthmatics Compared to Those Enrolled in Randomized Clinical Trials?
There is limited information on the efficacy and safety of bronchial thermoplasty (BT) inreal life. We evaluated the outcomes of the randomized clinical trials for BT in severe asthmatics, in whom the exclusion criteria were not strictly controlled. A case series of seven asthmatics (M/F: 4/3; age: 54.6 ± 2.9 years) is reported. Subjects had a statistically significant improvement in AQLQ (from a mean of 3.96 ± 1.1 to 4.5 ± 1.2 and 5.5 ± 0.6 after 6 and 12 months of treatment;p= 0.0007) and in the ACQ score (from 2.77 ± 0.8 to 1.83 ± 1.2 and 1.5 ± 0.8 after 6 and 12 months;p< 0.001). In the year after BT, severe exacerbations, salbutamol use, and OCS use were significantly lower compared with the 1-yr pretreatment period (p< 0.001). No ED visits and hospitalization occurred in the year after BT. No changes in functional parameters were recorded. Our investigation confirms the safety and efficacy of BT in severe asthmatics inreal lifesettings.
Dipartimento di Biomedicina e Medicina Specialistica, Sezione di Pneumologia, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Rita
R
Arrigo
Interventional Endoscopic Unit, ARNAS Ospedale Civico Di Cristina Benfratelli, Palermo, Italy.
Giuseppe
G
Failla
Dipartimento di Biomedicina e Medicina Specialistica, Sezione di Pneumologia, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Nicola
0000-0001-6400-6573
N
Scichilone
Interventional Endoscopic Unit, ARNAS Ospedale Civico Di Cristina Benfratelli, Palermo, Italy.
Alba
A
La Sala
Pulmonology Unit, Department of Cardiology, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery and Critical Care Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera ASMN, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
Carla
C
Galeone
Dipartimento di Biomedicina e Medicina Specialistica, Sezione di Pneumologia, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Salvatore
0000-0002-2867-917X
S
Battaglia
Dipartimento di Biomedicina e Medicina Specialistica, Sezione di Pneumologia, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Alida
A
Benfante
Pulmonology Unit, Department of Cardiology, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery and Critical Care Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera ASMN, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
Nicola
N
Facciolongo
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