Background: Severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA) may be the prodromal phase of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). Nevertheless, few studies have tried to recognize EGPA in the early stages of the disease.
Objective: To identify a panel of clinical and biological markers to detect which severe asthmatic patient might be considered in a prodromal phase of EGPA and crafting a strategy for diagnostic decision-making.
Background And Aims: Severe asthma may require the prescription of one of the biologic drugs currently available, using surrogate markers of airway inflammation (serum IgE levels and allergic sensitization for anti-IgE, or blood eosinophils for anti-IL5/IL5R). Our objective: to assess upper and lower airway inflammation in severe asthmatics divided according to the eligibility criteria for one of the target biologic treatments.
Methods: We selected 91 severe asthmatics, uncontrolled despite high-dose ICS-LABA, and followed for >6 months with optimization of asthma treatment.