None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Asthmatic airways narrow too easily, a characteristic called airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). To understand the cause of asthma we need to understand the cause of AHR. Thickened airway walls could amplify airway narrowing and increase AHR. However, thick airway walls are also stiff, and stiff walls could reduce narrowing and AHR. This projnect will examine the relationships between AHR and airway wall thickness and stiffness during and after treatment that reduces airway wall thickness. Airway wall thickness will be measured by high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scan of the chest. Airway stiffness will be measured using a simple breathing test. Measurements will be made at baseline and after six and twelve weeks of treatment. Treatment with inhaled corticosteroids over twelve weeks will be used to reduce airway inflammation and airway wall thickness. These drugs are recommended in all asthma management guidelines for the treatment of asthma, and will be used in standard, recommended doses.
Interventions
All subjects will be treated with fluticasone as inhaled combination therapy (Seretide) at 500ug twice daily (bd) for twelve weeks
Sponsors
The Woolcock Institute of Medical Research
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Intervention model
Single group
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
doctor-diagnosed asthma; current symptoms of asthma; airway hyperresponsiveness to methacholine; taking no more than 800ug Beclomethasone diproprionate (BDP) equivalent/day;
Exclusion criteria
current smokers within the last year or having more than 10 years pack history; pregnancy; history of lung cancer, lung reduction surgery, major illness (heart attack, stroke, epilepsy, rheumatoid arthritis); respiratory infection or oral pregnisolone use within the four weeks prior to study participation
Outcome results
None listed