Allergy, Asthma and Immunology: Severe refractory asthma: an update

+Author Affiliations

Dept of Respiratory Medicine, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

R.R.L. Wener, Dept of Respiratory Medicine, Academic Medical Center, P.O. Box 22660, 1100 DE Amsterdam, the Netherlands. E-mail: r.r.wener@amc.uva.nl

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.

This Article

doi:10.1183/09059180.00001913
Eur Respir Rev September 1, 2013 vol. 22 no. 129227-235

Footnotes

Provenance: Publication of this peer-reviewed article was supported by the World Scleroderma Foundation, Switzerland (principal sponsor, European Respiratory Review issue 129).
Conflict of interest: Disclosures can be found alongside the online version of this article at err.ersjournals.com