Active clinical trials for "Asthma"

This study is aimed at evaluation of the efficacy of mepolizumab 100 mg SC every 4 weeks in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma who have been treated for at least 12 months in several Polish allergy/asthma centres under the same protocol. Target population to be recruited has been set at 130 subjects from at least 6 asthma centers throughout the country. Data on dempgraphics and asthma status will be collected using questionnaires at 3 time-points: pre-MEPO, after 24 weeks of MEPO and after 1 year of MEPO administration (some of the outcomes will be observed every 4 weeks). Primary endpoints will include: Asthma exacerbations measured at qualification for the treatment (in the period of previous 52 weeks) and at the 24th and 52nd week of the treatment. Oral Corticosteroids use dose (documented at qualification for the treatment and at the 24th and 52nd week of the treatment).

This is a prospective cohort study that aims to determine the current demographics, clinical characteristics, comorbidities, treatment status and exacerbations of asthma patients. The primary objective of this study is to determine the current demographics, clinical characteristics, comorbidities, treatment status and exacerbations of asthma patients. The secondary objectives include: (1) to review the current practices of symptom control assessment, (2) to determine the choice of pharmacological regimen, rate of guideline adherence and real-world clinical practice in managing asthma patients, (3) to evaluate the pattern of lung function parameters (spirometry and forced oscillometry technique [FOT]) in adult asthma patients, (4) to evaluate the effect of ageing on the trend of change in lung function parameters (spirometry and FOT) in adult asthma patients, (5) to identify biomarkers that help to categorize different asthma phenotypes and predict subsequent prognosis, (6) to determine the risk factors of uncontrolled asthma and asthma exacerbation, (7) to evaluate the impact of comorbidities on asthma control. 400 out-patient asthma patients are planned to be recruited and they will be followed up for 3 years.

The purpose of this study is to prospectively examine the relation between topical corticosteroid use and hair cortisol concentration, among patients with moderate persistent asthma or allergic rhinitis. The investigators hypothesize that patients with asthma or allergic rhinitis treated with topical corticosteroids (i.e. inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) or intranasal glucocorticoids (INGC)) have higher levels of hair cortisol after 3 months of treatment than during the 3 months prior to initiation of treatment.

SEVERE ASTHMA IN THE COMMUNITY- BACKGROUND Severe asthma is a common problem. In the world approximately 300 million people have asthma but it is estimated that only 5% of these patients have severe asthma. Although "severe asthma" comprises a small fraction of the entire asthmatic population its share in the total economic burden of asthma is 80 percent. In Israel the prevalence of asthma among adult patients is about 5-6% but the prevalence of severe asthma is unknown. The definition of severe asthma has been changed during the years. Most recently in 2009 the WHO agreed on a unified definition of "severe asthma" that would fit countries of different socioeconomic development [1]. Severe asthma includes now 3 different groups: group one "untreated severe asthma", group two "difficult to treat severe asthma" and group three "treatment-resistant severe asthma". As all asthmatic patients in Israel have easy access to medical care, the current study will deal with the last two groups ("difficult to treat asthma" and "treatment resistant asthma"). AIMS Primary endpoints: To identify the prevalence of severe asthma in the community according to the WHO definition of group two & three. To assess whether anti-IgE therapy (Omalizumab), was considered in these groups of severe asthma. Secondary endpoints: To assess factors involved in "difficult to treat asthma" according to the WHO definition. Factors as patient compliance, presence of co-morbidities, symptoms of untreated potential asthma triggers including GE reflux, post nasal drip/atopic rhino-sinusitis, and intervening medications including NSAID and beta-blockers. To asses the level of asthma control, level of patient follow-up care including asthma specialist visits, periodic PFT's and asthma education. To assess the fraction of patients with severe asthma that is eligible to anti-IgE therapy according to the indications of the Israeli Ministry of Health (proven asthma, uncontrolled by high dose of combined ICS+LABA inhaler therapy + at least 2 courses of systemic corticosteroids in the last year + proven atopy to at least one perennial aeroallergen + IgE level of 30-1,500 IU/ml) DESIGN A prospective non-blinded non-randomized observation study among the population insured by Clalit Medical Services (CMS) in the Sharon- Shomron Medical District in Israel.

Following on from a 10 year study conducted in Finland this study is designed to test the validity and sustainability of an enhanced asthma management model for the UK.

The airways of the lung are lined by specialised cells called airway epithelial cells. As well as being at the interface between the lungs and the air we breathe; airway epithelial cell (AEC) function is altered in people with respiratory diseases such as asthma. AEC secrete many mediators that contribute to asthma symptoms and these also contribute to asthmatic inflammation in the lungs. The study of such cells is difficult because of their location deep in the lungs. Nasal airway epithelial cells provide a useful and easily accessible model of model of lower airway cells. This study will examine whether the asthma medication Singulair (montelukast) can inhibit the inflammatory secretions of nasal AEC of asthmatic patents who also have allergic rhinitis compared with patients who have asthma alone. We will also examine if montelukast has differential modulating effects in these two patient groups.

The purpose of this study is do describe the experience in the use of omalizumabe, in a real life scenario, in uncontrolled severe asthmatic patients attended in specialist outpatient clinics, and its efficacy and safety. The efficacy of omalizumab in the population observed will be evaluated as reduction of uncontrolled asthma related events, i.e. exacerbations, emergency dept. visits, hospitalization and asthma-related treatment (decrease of asthma medication).

The PulmoTrack® 2010 with WIM-PC™ Technologies device, indicated for acoustic pulmonary function measurement that quantifies the presence of wheezing. This study was designed in order to evaluate the efficacy and safety of using the WIM-PC™ device for wheeze detection during dynamic bronchial situations in asthmatic adult.

The response to salbutamol varies greatly among individuals. Data from previous studies indicate that some of the variability is accounted for by genetic polymorphisms in the gene encoding for the adrenoceptor subtype β2. The current study was designed to evaluate variability in the response to salbutamol among recently diagnosed patients who have not been treated by β2 agonists or corticosteroids. Lung function tests will be performed prior to and following a single dose administration of salbutamol through inhalation. Additional pharmacodynamic indices will be monitored including pulse and blood pressure. Three samples of plasma will be drawn for the evaluation of salbutamol plasma concentration.

Asthma and COPD are characterized by airway narrowing. The most potent, physiological mechanism leading to bronchodilation is taking a deep inspiration. This protects healthy subjects against bronchoconstrictive stimuli, and reverses pre-existing bronchoconstriction. However, the deep breath-induced bronchoprotection and -bronchodilation is impaired in asthma. We questioned whether this is specific for asthma (in comparison to COPD), and whether this is associated with bronchial inflammation and -remodelling. The study is a two-groups comparison, of physiological and pathological disease markers, obtained by methacholine challenges, monitoring airways resistance, and by taking bronchial biopsies.