Asthma
Conditions
Keywords
asthma, lung function, inflammation
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the site and mechanisms responsible for expiratory airflow limitation in chronic, treated, non-smoking, stable asthmatics with moderate to severe persistent expiratory airflow obstruction. Treatment will include inhaled corticosteroids and long acting beta2agonists and long acting muscarinic antagonists. We are interested in determining whether the large and/or small airways are the predominant site of airflow limitation. We are also interested in determining whether intrinsic small airways obstruction and/or loss of lung elastic recoil is responsible for expiratory airflow limitation and to what extent may be attributed to loss of lung elastic recoil vs decreased airway conductance in peripheral airways. We are also interested to evaluate the role of varying doses of inhaled corticosteroids to suppress large and small airway inflammation using exhaled nitric oxide as surrogate markers of inflammation. For comparison purposes, spirometry and measurements of exhaled nitric oxide will also be obtained if possible during a naturally occurring exacerbation of asthma. High resolution thin section CT of the lung will also be obtained. Analysis will evaluate integrity of the lung parenchyma as to absence and or presence of emphysema and extent of emphysema using voxel quantification. We will also investigate optical coherence tomography to detect clinically unsuspected emphysema. We will also obtain autopsy material when available in asthmatics who expire. Will also measure serum periostin as a marker of inflammation by collaborating with Genetech in San Francisco.
Detailed description
Results will be evaluated during exacerbation and when stable following treatment.
Interventions
2 inhalations 2X/daily in treated arm/group. No placebo group
fluticasone 100ug/salmeterol 50ug, 1 inhalation bid noplacebo fluticasone 250ug/salmeterol 50ug, 1 inhalations bid no placebo Spiriva handihaler daily or respihaler 2 inhalations daily no placebo group
200/5 mcg two puffs bid 100/5 mcg two puffs bid Breo Ellipta once daily Spiriva capsule handihaler once daily or Spiriva respihaler 2 in no placebo group
0-15 mg daily as needed
Sponsors
Study design
Eligibility
Inclusion criteria
* Current non-smoking (\<10 pack yr smoking history) * Stable, treated asthmatics * Age 12-95 yr * post 180ug albuterol by MDI: FEV 1/FVC \< 70% and FEV 1 \<80% predicted
Exclusion criteria
* Pregnancy
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| use exhaled nitric oxide as a surrogate marker of large airway vs small airway/lung inflammation following various doses of inhaled corticosteroids | 20-60 days | — |
| determine site of airflow limitation, whether predominantly large and /or small airways using expiratory flow volume curves obtained before and after asthmatics breathe a 80% helium-20% oxygen gas mixture | 20-60 days | — |
| investigate the mechanisms that limit expiratory airflow: intrinsic airway obstruction vs loss of lung elastic recoil | 20-60 days | — |
| determine the extent of asthma and distribution of emphysema | within 10 days following death or explanted lung if lung transplant obtained | at autopsy or post lung transplantation |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Evaluate large and small airways and lung parenchyma in autopsied or transplanted lung in asthmatics and look for unsuspected emphysema | June 2018 | If approved by surviving power of attorney, chronic non-smoking asthmatics who expire will undergo autopsy evaluation to evaluate extent of airway obstruction as well as presence of emphysema |
| Optical Coherence Tomography | June 2015 | When stable, chronic non-smoking asthmatics with persistent expiratory airflow obstruction will undergo OCT via flexible bronchoscopy to detect unsuspected emphysema. |
| dynamic hyperinflation | 20-60 days | — |
Countries
United States