None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Levels of POSTN (a protein-coding gene, also known as osteoblast specific factor) gene expression and periostin have been measured in a number of tissues and disease states, including asthma. As yet an incomplete picture is currently available on the role and effects of periostin level in the blood, however it has shown promise as a biomarker for asthma severity and a marker of inflammation levels, being easy to measure through a simple blood test. This study of the periostin levels in severe exacerbations of asthma would provide further information on the production of periostin in asthma. Until now the periostin assay has only been used to determine the relationship of periostin with eosinophilic airway inflammation in patients not responding to inhaled steroid treatment and has not been studied in patients with acute severe exacerbations of asthma. This study is part of a programme of research being undertaken by the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, aimed at furthering knowledge of periostin, in order to discover its clinical usefulness.
Interventions
Serum Periostin levels
Serum Periostin levels will be measured at 6 visits over 12 weeks (Day 1 [enrolment visit-within 24 hours of admission to hospital], week 1, week 2, week 4, week 8 and week 12) via a specific periostin laboratory assay
Sponsors
Medical Research Institute of New Zealand
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 75 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Aged between 18 to 75 years Able to provide written informed consent Doctor diagnosis of asthma Exacerbation of asthma, defined as one or both of the following criteria: Use of systemic corticosteroids (tablets, suspension, or injection), or an increase from a stable maintenance dose, for at least 3 days. For consistency, courses of corticosteroids separated by 1 week or more should be treated as separate severe exacerbations. A hospitalization or Emergency Department visit because of asthma, requiring systemic corticosteroids. requiring admission to hospital Participants prescribed a dose of systemic corticosteroids for at least 3 days will be eligible for the study, though it is recognised they will not have taken systemic corticosteroids for 3 days at the point of enrolment. Participants will not be eligible if they have commenced systemic corticosteroids greater than 24 hours prior to enrolment. Participants who have increased from their stable maintenance dose of systemic corticosteroids will only be eligible if this dose increase is confirmed to be less than 24 hours prior to enrolment.
Exclusion criteria
Known Pregnancy Significant co morbidities (determined at investigator discretion) Hospital admission within last 3 months for condition other than asthma Surgery within last 3 months, determined at investigator discretion (this includes all major surgery requiring general anaesthetic, dental extractions and root canal procedures. This does not include minor procedures, including but not limited to mole or wart removal, dental fillings etc). Bone fracture within the last 3 month Any other safety concern at the investigator’s discretion
Outcome results
None listed