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A randomised controlled trial of small particle inhaled steroids in refractory eosinophilic asthma (SPIRA)

Hodgson, David; Anderson, John; Reynolds, Catherine; Meakin, Garry; Bailey, Helen; Pavord, Ian; Shaw, Dominick E.; Harrison, Timothy W.

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Authors

David Hodgson

John Anderson

Catherine Reynolds

GARRY MEAKIN Garry.Meakin@nottingham.ac.uk
Senior Trial Manager

Helen Bailey

Ian Pavord

Dominick E. Shaw

TIM HARRISON tim.harrison@nottingham.ac.uk
Professor of Asthma and Respiratory Medicine



Abstract

Background: Some patients with refractory asthma have evidence of uncontrolled eosinophilic inflammation in the distal airways. While traditional formulations of inhaled steroids settle predominantly in the large airways, newer formulations with an extra-fine particle size have a more peripheral pattern of deposition. Specifically treating distal airway inflammation may improve asthma control.

Methods: 30 patients with refractory asthma despite high dose inhaled corticosteroids were identified as having persistent airway eosinophilia. Following 2 weeks of prednisolone 30 mg, patients demonstrating an improvement in asthma control were randomised to receive either ciclesonide 320 µg twice daily or placebo in addition to usual maintenance therapy for 8 weeks. The primary outcome measure was sputum eosinophil count at week 8. Alveolar nitric oxide was measured as a marker of distal airway inflammation.

Results: There was continued suppression of differential sputum eosinophil counts with ciclesonide (median 2.3%) but not placebo (median 4.5%) though the between-group difference was not significant. When patients who had changed their maintenance prednisolone dose during the trial were excluded the difference between groups was significant (1.4% vs 4.5%, p=0.028). Though alveolar nitric oxide decreased with ciclesonide the value did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusions: These data demonstrate that patients with ongoing eosinophilic inflammation are not truly refractory, and that suppression of airway eosinophilia may be maintained with additional inhaled corticosteroid. Further work is needed with a focus on patient-orientated outcome measures such as exacerbation rate, with additional tests of small airway function.

Trial registration number NCT01171365. Protocol available at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Citation

Hodgson, D., Anderson, J., Reynolds, C., Meakin, G., Bailey, H., Pavord, I., …Harrison, T. W. (2015). A randomised controlled trial of small particle inhaled steroids in refractory eosinophilic asthma (SPIRA). Thorax, 70(6), 559-565. https://doi.org/10.1136/thoraxjnl-2014-206481

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Mar 15, 2015
Online Publication Date Apr 9, 2015
Publication Date Apr 9, 2015
Deposit Date Sep 6, 2016
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Thorax
Print ISSN 0040-6376
Electronic ISSN 1468-3296
Publisher BMJ Publishing Group
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 70
Issue 6
Pages 559-565
DOI https://doi.org/10.1136/thoraxjnl-2014-206481
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/749957
Publisher URL http://thorax.bmj.com/content/70/6/559

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