Clinical course of patients with aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease: can we predict the prognosis?

Aim: This study aimed to identify prognostic factors of aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease by comparing clinical and genetic data with the clinical course.

Patients & Methods: Patients were classified into two groups according to their response to inhalation rechallenge with lysine-aspirin after at least 1 year of regular treatment with antiasthmatic medications.

Results: Forty eight patients (39.3%, group I) had negative responses, whereas 74 patients (60.7%, group II) had positive responses (n = 23) or were not rechallenged owing to persistent symptoms (n = 51). FEV₁ at diagnosis and follow-up were significantly lower in group II than in group I. The CCR3 polymorphism at -520T/G differed significantly between the two groups, whereas no difference was found in other SNPs.

Conclusion: Baseline FEV₁ and lower lung function after treatment were clinical factors indicating a poor prognosis of aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease. The G allele of CCR3 -520T>G was associated with persistent bronchial hypersensitivity to aspirin.