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BackgroundMany patients with asthma experience loss of lung function over time, and in certain patients this can lead to progressive obstructive patterns. similar to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Patients with severe asthma may experience accelerated lung function decline (LFD). However, characteristics and risk factors for LFD in asthma have not been well described. Dupilumab may prevent or slow the rate of LFD in patients with uncontrolled, moderate-to-severe asthma. ATLAS trial is designed to evaluate the role of dupilumab in preventing/slowing LFD over a period of 3 yearsversusstandard-of-care therapy.MethodsATLAS (NCT05097287) is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study that will include adult patients with uncontrolled moderate-to-severe asthma. Approximately 1828 patients will be randomised (2:1) to dupilumab 300 mg or placebo in combination with maintenance therapy every 2 weeks for 3 years. The primary objective is to assess the effect of dupilumab on preventing or slowing LFD by Year 1 in FeNO population (patients with FeNO ≥35 ppb). The effect of dupilumab in slowing the rate of LFD by Year 2 and Year 3 in both FeNO and total populations, exacerbations, asthma control, quality of life, biomarker changes, and utility of FeNO as a biomarker of LFD will also be evaluated.DiscussionATLAS is the first trial assessing the effect of a biologic on LFD, designed to establish the role of dupilumab in prevention of long-term loss of lung function and its potential effect on disease modification, which may provide unique insights into asthma pathophysiology, including predictive and prognostic factors of LFD.

Background: African ancestry is associated with a higher prevalence and greater severity of asthma than European ancestries, yet genetic studies of the most common locus associated with childhood-onset asthma, 17q12–21, in African Americans have been inconclusive. The aim of this study was to leverage both the phenotyping of the Children's Respiratory and Environmental Workgroup (CREW) birth cohort consortium, and the reduced linkage disequilibrium in African Americans, to fine map the 17q12–21 locus. Methods: We first did a genetic association study and meta-analysis using 17q12–21 tag single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for childhood-onset asthma in 1613 European American and 870 African American children from the CREW consortium. Nine tag SNPs were selected based on linkage disequilibrium patterns at 17q12–21 and their association with asthma, considering the effect allele under an additive model (0, 1, or 2 effect alleles). Results were meta-analysed with publicly available summary data from the EVE consortium (on 4303 European American and 3034 African American individuals) for seven of the nine SNPs of interest. Subsequently, we tested for expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) among the SNPs associated with childhood-onset asthma and the expression of 17q12–21 genes in resting peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 85 African American CREW children and in upper airway epithelial cells from 246 African American CREW children; and in lower airway epithelial cells from 44 European American and 72 African American adults from a case-control study of asthma genetic risk in Chicago (IL, USA). Findings: 17q12–21 SNPs were broadly associated with asthma in European Americans. Only two SNPs (rs2305480 in gasdermin-B [GSDMB] and rs8076131 in ORMDL sphingolipid biosynthesis regulator 3 [ORMDL3]) were associated with asthma in African Americans, at a Bonferroni-corrected threshold of p

Rationale The treatment effect of golimumab, a human monoclonal antibody against tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, in severe persistent asthma is unknown. Objectives To assess the safety and efficacy of golimumab in a large population of patients with uncontrolled, severe persistent asthma. Methods From 2004 to 2006, 309 patients with severe and uncontrolled asthma, despite high-dose inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta(2) agonists, were randomized 1:1:1:1 to monthly subcutaneous injections of placebo or golimumab (50, 100, or 200 mg) through Week 52. Coprimary endpoints were the change from baseline through Week 24 in prebronchodilator percent-predicted FEV(1) and the number of severe asthma exacerbations through Week 24. Measurements and main results No significant differences were observed for the change in percent-predicted FEV1 (least squares mean: placebo, 2.44 [95% confidence interval (CI) -0.574 to 5.461]; combined 100-mg and 200-mg, 2.91 [0.696-5.116]) or severe exacerbations (mean +/- SD: placebo, 0.5 +/- 1.07 vs. combined 100-mg and 200-mg 0.5 +/- 0.97) through week 24. Through Week 24, 2.6% of patients treated with placebo vs. 19.5% of those treated with golimumab discontinued the study agent, and 1.3% and 7.8% discontinued study participation, respectively. An unfavorable risk-benefit profile led to early discontinuation of study-agent administration after the Week-24 database lock. Through Week 76, 20.5% of patients treated with placebo and 30.3% of patients treated with golimumab experienced serious adverse events, with serious infections occurring more frequently in golimumab-treated patients. One death and all eight malignancies occurred in the active groups. Conclusions Overall, treatment with golimumab did not demonstrate a favorable risk-benefit profile in this study population of patients with severe persistent asthma. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT00207740).

Background: Salmeterol, a long-acting β 2 -agonist, and zafirlukast, a leukotriene receptor antagonist, are both indicated for the treatment of asthma in adolescent and adult patients. Objective: We sought to compare the effect of 4 weeks of treatment with inhaled salmeterol xinafoate versus oral zafirlukast in the treatment of persistent asthma. Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-group, multicenter clinical trial. Patients, over 80% of whom were on a concurrent inhaled corticosteroid regimen, were treated for 4 weeks with either inhaled salmeterol xinafoate 42 μg twice daily administered by means of a metered-dose inhaler or oral zafirlukast 20 mg twice daily. The primary efficacy measure was morning peak expiratory flow (PEF); secondary efficacy measures included evening PEF, asthma symptom scores, supplemental albuterol use, nighttime awakenings, sleep symptoms, asthma exacerbations, and FEV 1 . Results: Both inhaled salmeterol and oral zafirlukast resulted in within-group improvements from baseline in measures of pulmonary function, asthma symptoms, and supplemental albuterol use. Salmeterol treatment resulted in significantly greater improvements from baseline compared with zafirlukast for most efficacy measurements, including morning PEF (29.6 vs 13.0 L/min; P ≤ .001), percentage of symptom-free days (22.4% vs 8.8%; P ≤ .001), and percentage of days and nights with no supplemental albuterol use (30.5% vs 11.3%; P ≤ .001). There were no differences in safety profiles as assessed by adverse event monitoring. Conclusion: In patients with persistent asthma, most of whom were concurrently using inhaled corticosteroids, treatment with inhaled salmeterol provided significantly greater improvement than oral zafirlukast in overall asthma control over the 4-week treatment period. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 1999;103:1075-80.)

Background: Many patients with severe asthma are dependent on oral corticosteroids for maintenance control of their disease. Treatments that allow patients to be weaned off oral corticosteroids may help to minimize the risk of side effects associated with their chronic use. Objective : This study evaluated whether inhaled fluticasone propionate powder could maintain pulmonary function while reducing the dose of oral prednisone in patients with chronic, severe asthma. Methods : Oral prednisone–dependent (5 to 40 mg/day) adolescents and adults with asthma (n = 111; mean FEV 1 = 61% of predicted value) were randomized to placebo or twice daily fluticasone propionate 500 or 1000 μg administered by means of a multidose powder inhaler for 16 weeks in a double-blind, parallel-group study. Patients underwent controlled prednisone reduction on the basis of predetermined asthma stability criteria. Results : Oral prednisone was eliminated by 75% and 89% of patients in the twice daily 500 and 1000 μg fluticasone propionate groups, respectively, versus 9% of the placebo group ( P 1 , morning and evening peak expiratory flow, asthma symptoms, albuterol use, and nighttime awakenings improved with fluticasone propionate treatment, achieving statistical significance ( P ≤ .009) primarily in the 1000 μg twice daily group. Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis suppression observed at baseline improved when patients were weaned off oral prednisone to fluticasone propionate. Adverse events ascribed to drug treatment were primarily topical effects of inhaled corticosteroids or those associated with prednisone withdrawal. Patient quality of life assessed by means of the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire was clinically and significantly improved after fluticasone propionate treatment ( P ≤ .003). Conclusion : Fluticasone propionate powder (500 or 1000 μg twice daily) effectively improved lung function, adrenal function, and asthma-specific quality of life in patients with severe chronic asthma previously treated with oral prednisone while allowing most patients to be weaned off oral corticosteroid therapy. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 1999;103:267-75.)

A total of 1015 patients participated in three 1-week, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials undertaken to assess the therapeutic efficacy and tolerability of twice daily administration of a nasal spray containing a combination of levocabastine (0.5 mg/mL) and oxymetazoline (0.5 mg/mL) (levocabastine-D) versus that of either agent alone in the treatment of ragweed-induced seasonal allergic rhinitis. As these studies shared a common protocol, the data have been pooled. Patient assessments revealed that the mean change in area under the curve (AUC) from baseline over the entire treatment period was significantly greater in patients treated with levocabastine or levocabastine-D than in those receiving placebo for all symptoms evaluated (nasal congestion; P < 0.05 and sneezing, rhinorrhea, nasal itching, ocular symptoms, total key symptoms, total all symptoms; P < 0.001). Corresponding changes in patients treated with oxymetazoline alone did not attain statistical significance. Day-by-day analysis demonstrated that the beneficial effects seen with levocabastine and levocabastine-D were maintained throughout the treatment period for all symptoms except nasal congestion (Days 1 and 2 only); oxymetazoline provided significant relief from nasal congestion only and only on the first day of treatment. Investigator assessments revealed similar trends. Global evaluations of therapeutic efficacy revealed that 44% of levocabastine-treated patients and 52% of patients treated with levocabastine-D considered therapeutic efficacy to be excellent or good compared with 39% of those on oxymetazoline and 26% on placebo (P < 0.01 versus placebo). Adverse experiences were reported by 30% of levocabastine-treated patients, 40% of patients treated with levocabastine-D and oxymetazoline, and 32% of placebo controls, with no statistically significant intergroup differences in incidence or type. In conclusion, twice daily levocabastine nasal spray is effective and well-tolerated for the treatment of ragweed-induced seasonal allergic rhinitis with an adverse effect profile comparable with that of placebo. Addition of oxymetazoline to the topical antihistamine does not appear to provide significant additional clinical benefit compared to that observed with levocabastine alone, and tachyphylaxis to the decongestant effect of the topical vasoconstrictor occurs within days of treatment initiation.

Twenty-one subjects with known bronchial hyperreactivity were prospectively randomized in double-blind fashion to receive one of two angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I), enalapril or spirapril, for three weeks. Spirometry and methacholine provocation were performed prior to, during, and following ACE-I usage. Three of 21 subjects developed a nonproductive cough. However, only one subject wheezed slightly. Spirometry and bronchial reactivity (PD20) were unchanged throughout the study.

Background: Concurrent use of an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) and an inhaled long-acting β 2 -agonist provides better overall asthma control than the use of higher doses of ICS alone. Objective: The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether fluticasone propionate (FP) combined with salmeterol in the Diskus device can be used to reduce the dose of ICS in patients currently stable on medium-dose ICS while maintaining asthma control. Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, 12- to 24-week trial consisting of a 3-part run-in period. The run-in period was designed to first establish FP 250 μg administered twice a day (bid) via Diskus as the minimum effective dose. During run-in period 1, patients received FP 220 μg bid or the equivalent for 10 to 14 days. Controlled patients moved to run-in period 2 (5-28 days), which assessed asthma stability on FP 100 μg bid administered via Diskus. Only patients who became unstable on FP 100 μg bid were eligible to enter run-in period 3 (26-30 days), during which they were placed on FP 250 μg bid and those regaining asthma control were eligible for randomization. The primary efficacy endpoint was the proportion of patients who remained in the study with no evidence of worsening asthma. Secondary efficacy measures included FEV 1 , morning peak expiratory flow, percent of symptom-free days, and daily albuterol use. Results: Only 5% of patients treated with FP100/salmeterol withdrew because of worsening asthma in the first 12 weeks; this compared with 7% in the FP250 group. All patients from a subset of sites continued in the study for an additional 12 weeks; only an additional 1% of patients treated with either FP100/salmeterol or FP250 withdrew because of worsening asthma. Secondary efficacy measures confirmed primary efficacy results. Conclusion: In patients requiring FP250 bid for asthma stability, FP100/salmeterol bid was steroid-sparing, allowing a 60% reduction in the FP dose while maintaining overall asthma control. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2003;111:57-65.)

Both inhaled corticosteroids and leukotriene modifiers are used in the maintenance treatment of persistent asthma.The goal was to compare the efficacy and safety of low-dose fluticasone propionate (FP) and montelukast as first-line maintenance therapy in symptomatic patients by using short-acting beta2-agonists alone to treat persistent asthma.In this multicenter, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-group study, 533 patients (15 years old) with persistent asthma who remained symptomatic while taking short-acting beta2-agonists alone were treated with FP (88 microg [2 puffs of 44 microg] twice daily) or montelukast (10 mg once daily) for 24 weeks.Compared with treatment with montelukast, treatment with FP resulted in significantly greater improvements at endpoint in morning predose FEV(1) (22.9% vs 14.5%, P.001), forced midexpiratory flow (0.66 vs 0.41 L/sec, P.001), forced vital capacity (0.42 vs 0.29 L, P =.002), morning peak expiratory flow (PEF) (68.5 vs 34.1 L/min, P.001), and evening PEF (53.9 vs 28.7 L/min, P.001). Similar improvements in PEF were observed in patients with milder asthma (70%-80% predicted FEV(1)). At endpoint, FP was more effective than montelukast at decreasing rescue albuterol use (3.1 puffs/day vs 2.3 puffs/day, P.001), asthma symptom scores (-0.85 [48.6% decrease] vs -0.60 [30.5%], P.001), and nighttime awakenings due to asthma (-0.64 awakenings/night [62% decrease] vs -0.48 awakenings/night [47.5%], P =.023), and FP increased the percentage of symptom-free days (32.0% vs 18.4% of days, P.001) compared with montelukast. The adverse event and asthma exacerbation profiles for FP and montelukast were similar.Low-dose FP is more effective than montelukast as first-line maintenance therapy for patients with persistent asthma who are undertreated and remain symptomatic while taking short-acting beta2-agonists alone.

Asthma is a disease of chronic inflammation and bronchoconstriction. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) provide important anti-inflammatory treatment but may not provide optimal control of asthma when taken alone. Two therapeutic alternatives for enhanced asthma control are to substitute the combination of fluticasone propionate (FP) and salmeterol (FP/Salm Combo) through the Diskus inhaler or to add montelukast to existing ICS therapy.We compared the efficacy and safety of FP/Salm Combo through the Diskus inhaler versus montelukast added to FP (FP + montelukast) in patients whose symptoms were suboptimally controlled with ICS therapy.We performed a multicenter, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-group, 12-week study in 447 patients with asthma who were symptomatic at baseline while receiving low-dose FP. Patients were treated for 12 weeks with one of the following: (1) combination of FP 100 microg plus salmeterol 50 microg twice daily through the Diskus inhaler, or (2) FP 100 microg twice daily through the Diskus inhaler plus oral montelukast 10 mg once daily.FP/Salm Combo treatment provided better overall asthma control than FP + montelukast with significantly greater improvements in morning peak expiratory flow (+24.9 L/min vs +13.0 L/min, P.001), evening peak expiratory flow (+18.9 L/min vs +9.6 L/min, P.001), and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (+0.34 L vs +0.20 L, P.001), as well as a change in the percentage of days with no albuterol use (+26.3% vs +19.1%, P =.032) and the shortness of breath symptom score (-0.56 vs -0.40, P =.017). The groups had comparable improvements in chest tightness, wheeze, and overall symptom scores. Asthma exacerbation rates were significantly lower (P =.031) in the FP/Salm Combo group (4 patients, 2%) than in the FP + montelukast group (13 patients, 6%). Adverse event profiles were comparable.Symptomatic patients on low-dose ICS therapy had significantly greater improvement in asthma control when switched to the FP/Salm Combo than when montelukast was added to ICS therapy.