ATS NEWS TIPS FROM APRIL JOURNALS
For Release: April 17, 1997 6:00 p.m.
Study Shows Some Adult Asthma Patients Can "Outgrow" The Disease
Whereas studies in the past have shown that about 50 percent of chidren
with asthma outgrow their disease, few studies have shown the same
outcome for adults. However, a longitudinal study conducted in the
Netherlands has found that about 40 percent of adult asthmatics were
symptom-free after a 25 year period. The study group involved 181 adult
patients whose average age was 24 at the outset of the investigation.
Severity of airway obstruction seemed to be the most important predictor
of asthma severity later in life. Investigators felt that the subjects
with relatively less severe airway obstruction had the best chance of
improving or even outgrowing their asthma. Researchers also indicated that
their findings underscored the importance of early treatment in both
children and adults. The study was reported in the April issue of the "
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine."
Leukotriene Antagonists Control Moderate-to-Severe Asthma As High-Dose
Inhaled Corticosteroids Are Reduced
Moderate-to-severe asthma is often treated with high-dose inhaled
corticosteroids. However, long-term use of this medication is sometimes
accompanied by serious side effects such as adrenal gland suppression,
disturbed bone metabolism, alterations in carbohydrate metabolism, and
behavioral changes. Japanese researchers showed that, by using an orally
active leukotriene antagonist in 42 patients, moderate -to- severe asthma
could still be controlled as the inhaled corticosteroids dosage was reduced
by 50 percent over a six-week usage time. The 37 patients not on
leukotriene antagonist suffered from disease exacerbations as the dosage of
the inhaled corticosteroids was reduced. Researchers reported few side
effects from the leukotriene antagoists which serve as mediators or
reuglators of inflammatory or allergic reaction. Other proposed
alternatives to steroid treatment in asthma, such as methotrexate and
cyclosporin, have been associated with a high incidence of side effects.
The study was reported in the April issue of the "American Journal of
Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine."
Oral Contraceptive Pill Seems To Lessen Asthma Exacerbation During
Menstrual Cycle
Scottish researchers found that asthmatic women on the contraceptive pill
suffered less asthma exacerbation during the menstrual cycle than asthmatic
women not on the pill. Investigators compared nine women on the pill with
nine women going through natural menstruation to determine hormonal
influences on the airways. Among the group not taking the pill, there was
a significant increase in airway reactivity during the second half of the
menstrual cycle. This was accompanied by a significant increase in female
sex-steroid hormones, according to the investigators. Researchers
indicated that in the future, female sex steroid hormones may be used
therapeutically to smooth out changes in airway reactivity in women with
unstable asthma or in premenstrual asthma not controlled by conventional
therapy. The study was reported in the April issue of the "American
Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. "
For the complete text of these articles or for more information, call
Christina Shepherd, American Thoracic Society, at (212) 315-6440 or fax
her at (212) 315-6455.
RSS