Enhancers regulate genes linked to severe and mild childhood asthma.

Background: Children with severe asthma suffer from recurrent symptoms and impaired quality of life despite advanced treatment. Underlying causes of severe asthma are not completely understood, although genetic mechanisms are known to be important.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify gene regulatory enhancers in leukocytes, to describe the role of these enhancers in regulating genes related to severe and mild asthma in children, and to identify known asthma-related SNPs situated in proximity to enhancers.

Adherence to inhaled corticosteroid therapy and treatment escalation in the Swedish adult asthma population.

Background: Patients with uncontrolled asthma should be evaluated for medication adherence. This study aimed to identify characteristics associated with poor adherence to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and to explore adherence prior to treatment escalation.

Methods: This nationwide longitudinal cohort study included adult asthma patients (n = 30880) with a healthcare visit including Asthma Control Test (ACT) and registered in the Swedish National Airway Register between 1 July 2017 and 28 February 2019 (index date).

Treatable traits and exacerbation risk in patients with uncontrolled asthma prescribed GINA step 1-3 treatment: A nationwide asthma cohort study.

Background And Objective: Uncontrolled asthma in patients treated for mild/moderate disease could be caused by non-pulmonary treatable traits (TTs) that affect asthma control negatively. We aimed to identify demographic characteristics, behavioural (smoking) and extrapulmonary (obesity, comorbidities) TTs and the risk for future exacerbations among patients with uncontrolled asthma prescribed step 1-3 treatment according to the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA).

Methods: Twenty-eight thousand five hundred eighty-four asthma patients (≥18 y) with a registration in the Swedish National Airway Register between 2017 and 2019 were included (index-date).

Recommendations for asthma monitoring in children: A PeARL document endorsed by APAPARI, EAACI, INTERASMA, REG, and WAO.

Monitoring is a major component of asthma management in children. Regular monitoring allows for diagnosis confirmation, treatment optimization, and natural history review. Numerous factors that may affect disease activity and patient well-being need to be monitored: response and adherence to treatment, disease control, disease progression, comorbidities, quality of life, medication side-effects, allergen and irritant exposures, diet and more.

Systemic IL-26 correlates with improved asthma control in children sensitized to dog allergen.

Background: Interleukin (IL)-26 is produced by T helper type 17 (Type 17) cells and exerts immunomodulatory plus antimicrobial effects. Previous studies show that local IL-26 concentrations in the airways are higher in patients with uncontrolled than in those with controlled asthma, and that this intriguing cytokine bears biomarker potential. Here, we determined how systemic IL-26 relates to allergen sensitization, asthma severity, and to IL-17 A in children.