Background: Asthma is associated with a prothrombotic state. Plasma factor VIIa-antithrombin complex concentrations (FVIIa-AT) indirectly reflect the interaction of tissue factor (TF) with FVII. Since TF is a key initiator of coagulation in vivo, we hypothesized that FVIIa-AT are higher in asthma.
Methods: In 159 clinically stable adult asthma patients and 62 controls, we determined FVIIa-AT in plasma and analyzed their relation to circulating inflammatory and prothrombotic markers together with the total plasma potential for fibrinolysis (clot lysis time, CLT) and thrombin generation. We recorded clinical outcomes, including asthma exacerbations, during 3-year follow-up.
Results: Asthma patients were characterized by 38.5% higher FVIIa-AT (p<0.001), related to bronchial obstruction (FEV1: r=-0.397, p<0.001), asthma severity (r=0.221, p=0.005) and duration (r=0.194, p=0.015) compared to controls. FVIIa-AT showed weak positive associations with C-reactive protein (r=0.208, p=0.009), fibrinogen (r=0.215, p=0.007), and CLT (r=0.303, p<0.001) but not with thrombin generation parameters. In the follow-up (data obtained from 151 patients), we documented 151 severe asthma exacerbations in 51 (33.8%) patients, including 33 (21.9%) with ≥2 such events. Exacerbation-prone asthma phenotype was related to 13.1% higher FVIIa-AT (p=0.012), along with asthma severity and control (p<0.003, both). High FVIIa-AT (that is ≥ 100.1 pmol/l), defined on receiver operating characteristic curves, was linked to exacerbation-prone asthma phenotype (odds ratio 1.85; 95%CI: 1.23-2.80, p=0.003) and shorter time to first exacerbation (p=0.023).
Conclusions: This study is the first to show that FVIIa-AT are higher in asthma in relation to its severity and may help identify individuals at risk of the exacerbation-prone asthma phenotype.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1055/a-2515-1402 | DOI Listing |
Background: In patients with asthma, bronchoconstriction and airway inflammation both contribute to airway narrowing and airflow limitations, which lead to symptoms and exacerbations. Short-acting beta 2-agonist (SABA)-only rescue therapy addresses only bronchoconstriction and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Current asthma management guidelines recommend concomitant treatment of symptoms and inflammation with a fast-acting bronchodilator and inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) as rescue therapy for patients 12 years of age.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPulmonology
December 2025
Portuguese Society of Pulmonology (SPP), Lisbon, Portugal.
Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an important cause of lower respiratory tract infection, hospitalisation and death in adults.
Methods: Based on evidence regarding the impact of RSV on adult populations at risk for severe infection and the efficacy and safety of RSV vaccines, the Portuguese Society of Pulmonology, the Portuguese Association of General and Family Medicine, the Portuguese Society of Cardiology, the Portuguese Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, the Portuguese Society of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, and the Portuguese Society of Internal Medicine endorses this position paper with recommendations to prevent RSV-associated disease and its complications in adults through vaccination.
Conclusion: The RSV vaccine is recommended for people aged ≥50 years with risk factors (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, heart failure, coronary artery disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, chronic liver disease, immunocompromise, frailty, dementia, and residence in a nursing home) and all persons aged ≥60 years.
Pulm Ther
January 2025
US Medical Affairs, GSK, ATC Fowler Building, 410 Blackwell Street, Durham, NC, 27701, USA.
Introduction: Escalation to single- or multiple-inhaler triple therapy (SITT; MITT) is a recommended option for patients with asthma who remain uncontrolled by medium-dose inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting β-agonist; however, characterization of elderly users of triple therapy is limited. This real-world cohort study describes demographics and clinical characteristics of elderly patients with asthma with and without comorbid chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who are new users of triple therapy, and asthma treatment patterns preceding triple therapy initiation.
Methods: This retrospective cohort study used administrative claims data from the Optum Clinformatics Data Mart database.
Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol
January 2025
Translational Research in Pediatric Specialities, Division of Allergy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Purpose Of Review: This review aims to provide an overview of the current and future treatment options for children with food allergies (FAs), highlighting the latest research findings and the potential impact of these new approaches on improving patients' and caregivers' quality of life.
Recent Findings: In the last decade, many promising approaches have emerged as an alternative to the standard avoidance of the culprit food with the risk of severe accidental reactions. Desensitization through oral immunotherapy has been introduced in clinical settings as a therapeutic approach, and more recently also omalizumab.
Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis
January 2025
School of Translational Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Purpose: Oral corticosteroids (OCS) are recommended for the treatment of exacerbations in people with COPD; however, high cumulative lifetime doses (≥1000mg prednisolone-equivalent) are associated with adverse health effects. This issue is well defined in asthma but is less well understood in COPD. The aim of this study was to examine cumulative OCS dispensed to people with COPD over 12 months.
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