Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 18, 2026

Bronchial Thermoplasty: A Novel Therapeutic Approach to Severe Asthma
14:39

Bronchial Thermoplasty: A Novel Therapeutic Approach to Severe Asthma

Published on: November 4, 2010

Clinical outcomes of steroid-insensitive asthma

F S Wamboldt1, J D Spahn, M D Klinnert

  • 1Department of Medicine, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Denver, Colorado 80206, USA. wamboldtf@hjc.org

Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology : Official Publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology
|August 7, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Steroid insensitive asthma significantly impacts quality of life but does not worsen clinical outcomes like hospitalizations. Further research is needed to understand this severe asthma subtype.

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonology
  • Pediatric Asthma Research
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Steroid insensitivity is increasingly identified in severe, chronic asthma patients.
  • Limited data exist on the long-term clinical outcomes for steroid-insensitive (SI) asthma.
  • SI asthma is expected to have a poorer longitudinal course.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the 2-year clinical outcomes of pediatric patients with steroid-insensitive asthma.
  • To compare quality of life and healthcare utilization between steroid-insensitive and steroid-sensitive asthma patients.

Main Methods:

  • Follow-up data from 34 pediatric patients evaluated for steroid insensitivity were analyzed.
  • Outcomes included oral glucocorticoid (GC) dose, GC bursts, emergency room visits, hospitalizations, Asthma Functional Severity, and quality of life (QOL) measures.

Main Results:

  • Patients with SI asthma and their caregivers reported significantly poorer quality of life compared to steroid-sensitive (SS) asthma patients.
  • No significant differences were observed in GC dose, GC bursts, emergency room visits, hospitalizations, or Asthma Functional Severity between SI and SS asthma groups.

Conclusions:

  • Steroid insensitivity is linked to poorer quality of life in pediatric asthma patients at 2-year follow-up.
  • Clinical outcomes such as steroid requirements and healthcare utilization did not differ significantly between SI and SS asthma.
  • SI asthma may represent a more severe form with potential for fixed lung obstruction, warranting further longitudinal investigation.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Asthma: Pathogenesis and Management01:20

Asthma: Pathogenesis and Management

Asthma is a chronic pulmonary condition involving inflammation of the airways, hyper-reactivity, and reversible obstruction of the airways. This condition can significantly impact a person's quality of life, making breathing difficult and leading to distressing symptoms.
Asthma is classified as allergic and non-allergic. Allergens such as dust mites, pollen, and pet dander trigger allergic asthma, while factors like cold air, intense emotions, or exercise can induce non-allergic asthma.
Antiasthma Drugs: Inhaled Corticosteroids and Glucocorticoids01:25

Antiasthma Drugs: Inhaled Corticosteroids and Glucocorticoids

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are anti-inflammatory drugs used primarily in treating persistent asthma and providing long-term maintenance. They target the bronchial mucosa, the lining of the airways, to control inflammation, a critical factor in asthma progression and exacerbation.
ICS work through a multifaceted mechanism of action. They suppress the inflammatory response caused by the proliferation of TH cells. They also reduce the transcription of the IL-2 gene, which is involved in the...
Antiasthma Drugs: Mast Cell Stabilizers and Anti-IgE Drugs01:25

Antiasthma Drugs: Mast Cell Stabilizers and Anti-IgE Drugs

Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition for which new therapeutic avenues, including anti-inflammatory drugs like mast cell stabilizers and anti-IgE treatments, continue to be developed.
Mast cell stabilizers, such as cromolyn (also known as sodium cromoglycate) and nedocromil (Tilade), are effective drugs in asthma management. These stabilizers hinder histamine release by skillfully obstructing the activation of mast cells and other cellular entities. Notably, they navigate this task without...
COPD: Management Using Bronchodilators and Corticosteroids01:26

COPD: Management Using Bronchodilators and Corticosteroids

Chronic obstructive pulmonary isease (COPD) involves a group of progressive lung disorders characterized by persistent airflow limitation and chronic respiratory symptoms. Asthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome (ACOS), encompassing features of both asthma and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is a group of progressive lung disorders that includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and refractory (non-reversible) asthma. ACOS leads to complex clinical presentations that combine the inflammatory...
Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification01:26

Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification

Asthma is a prevalent chronic respiratory condition marked by inflammation and hyperresponsiveness of the airways. Its pathophysiology involves complex interactions among inflammatory pathways, immune responses, and neural mechanisms.
Additionally, environmental and genetic factors play crucial roles in determining an individual's susceptibility to asthma and the severity of their condition.
Critical processes in asthma pathophysiology include:
Asthma III: Clinical Manifestations01:13

Asthma III: Clinical Manifestations

Asthma presents with a characteristic pattern of episodic respiratory symptoms that reflect underlying airway inflammation, bronchoconstriction, and mucus hypersecretion. Although severity varies among individuals, certain clinical manifestations are considered hallmarks of the disorder and often guide diagnosis and assessment.Respiratory SymptomsA persistent cough is one of the most common early features of asthma. It is frequently dry and tends to worsen at night or in the early morning,...