Publications by authors named "Stylianos Vittorakis"

Remission of asthma can occur as part of the natural history of the disease; however, the use of biologics can result in disease remission in some patients. In this post hoc analysis of the RELIght study, we aimed to evaluate clinical remission in real life among patients treated with mepolizumab, to detect possible differences between "remitters" and "nonremitters," and to evaluate possible predictors of remission. Clinical remission was defined as the absence of asthma exacerbations, discontinuation of oral corticosteroids (OCS), achievement of asthma control (Asthma Control Test [ACT] ≥ 20), and stable or improved lung function.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A 26-year-old female with steroid dependent eosinophilic asthma and nasal polyps who had successfully been treated with mepolizumab for 17 consecutive months with complete steroid withdrawal and symptoms control, stopped biologic treatment due to pregnancy efforts. Mepolizumab discontinuation resulted in frequent exacerbations and daily symptoms despite high dose ICS/LABA and re-initiation of oral steroids. Mepolizumab was initiated again, followed by improvement of asthma control and gradual withdrawal of steroids within 2 months.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Mepolizumab is a monoclonal antibody against IL-5 for the treatment of severe eosinophilic asthma. The aim of the current study was to present a predesigned interim analysis of the data of patients who have completed 1 year of therapy with mepolizumab.

Methods: This study is a prospective multicenter, noninterventional 2-year observational study and aims to describe the clinical benefit and safety profile of mepolizumab in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Colonic metastasis from lung cancer is rare, generally asymptomatic and usually develop at advanced cancer stages. Here, we report a case with a resected stage IA lung adenocarcinoma in a 51yo male patient that presented two years later with mild abdominal pain due to intestinal obstruction caused by a metastatic colon tumor. The patient underwent colonoscopy followed by surgical resection and the pathologic report was adenocarcinoma which was the same as that from a lung nodule that was excised two years earlier.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Human rhinoviruses, major precipitants of asthma exacerbations, induce lower airway inflammation and mediate angiogenesis. The purpose of this study was to assess the possibility that rhinoviruses may also contribute to the fibrotic component of airway remodeling.

Methods: Levels of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) mRNA and protein were measured following rhinovirus infection of bronchial epithelial cells.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A 51-year-old previously healthy man, an ex-smoker, was admitted to the authors' medical department with a 3-month history of dry cough; intermittent fever; painless, ulcerated cutaneous lesions over the trunk and limbs (Figure 1); and progressive weight loss. He was of Greek descent. His medical history was remarkable for nasal polyps, which were surgically removed 15 years earlier.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF