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Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels
Published on: August 7, 2017
Biomarkers in airway diseases
1Critical Care Medicine Department, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA. janice.leung@nih.gov
Canadian Respiratory Journal
|June 14, 2013
Summary
New biomarkers show promise for diagnosing and managing airway diseases like asthma and COPD. These include exhaled nitric oxide, sputum eosinophils, and specific plasma markers, aiding in treatment decisions.
Area of Science:
- Respiratory Medicine
- Clinical Chemistry
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Spirometry and clinical history have limitations in diagnosing airway diseases.
- There is a need for reliable surrogate markers to assess disease severity and treatment response.
- Few biomarkers are currently established in clinical practice for airway diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore promising biomarker sources for airway diseases.
- To evaluate the potential of exhaled nitric oxide, sputum eosinophils, and plasma biomarkers.
- To assess their role in disease severity and treatment response.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on biomarkers in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Analysis of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) for steroid responsiveness in asthma.
- Examination of sputum eosinophil counts for anti-inflammatory therapy titration in asthma.
- Investigation of plasma biomarkers (fibrinogen, club cell secretory protein-16, surfactant protein D) in COPD severity and exacerbation risk.
Main Results:
- Exhaled nitric oxide measurements can predict steroid responsiveness in asthma.
- Sputum eosinophil counts are useful for titrating anti-inflammatory therapies in asthma.
- Plasma biomarkers like fibrinogen, club cell secretory protein-16, and surfactant protein D indicate greater severity and predict exacerbation risk in COPD.
Conclusions:
- Despite challenges in respiratory medicine, specific biomarkers show potential for clinical application.
- Exhaled nitric oxide, sputum eosinophils, and certain plasma biomarkers may soon aid in diagnosing and managing airway diseases.
- These biomarkers offer a path towards personalized treatment strategies for patients with asthma and COPD.
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