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Asthma phenotypes and endotypes in childhood
Valentina Fainardi1, Susanna Esposito2, Alfredo Chetta3
1Department of Medicine and Surgery, Clinic of Pediatrics, Pietro Barilla Children's Hospital, University of Parma, Parma, Italy - valentina.fainardi@unipr.it.
Insights
Asthma is a complex childhood disease with various phenotypes and endotypes. Understanding these classifications aids in developing personalized treatment strategies for better asthma management.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Immunology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Asthma is a heterogeneous respiratory condition with diverse clinical presentations.
- Classifications based on phenotype (clinical features) and endotype (immunopathological mechanisms) are crucial for understanding asthma.
- Identifying reliable biomarkers for endotypes remains a challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and discuss the main phenotypes and endotypes of asthma recognized in children.
- To highlight the importance of deep knowledge of patient phenotype and endotype.
- To emphasize how this knowledge can guide tailored therapeutic approaches.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing classifications and research on pediatric asthma phenotypes.
- Analysis of immunopathological mechanisms and biomarker identification for asthma endotypes.
- Synthesis of current understanding of asthma heterogeneity in children.
Main Results:
- Detailed discussion of various pediatric asthma phenotypes, including age of onset, triggers, comorbidities, and treatment response.
- Exploration of different asthma endotypes based on underlying immune pathways.
- Emphasis on the clinical utility of distinguishing between phenotypes and endotypes.
Conclusions:
- A thorough understanding of asthma phenotypes and endotypes is essential for personalized medicine in pediatric asthma.
- Tailored therapeutic strategies informed by detailed patient classification can improve asthma outcomes.
- Further research into reliable biomarkers for endotype identification is warranted.
Abstract:
Asthma is a very heterogeneous disease and since early childhood many classifications have been proposed according to phenotype and endotype. The phenotype includes the clinical features of asthma such as age of onset, triggers, comorbidities, response to treatment and evolution over time. The endotype is more difficult to define, includes the underlying immunopathological mechanisms of the disease and requires reliable biomarkers. A deep knowledge of phenotype and endotype of the patient may guide a tailored therapeutic approach. In this review the main phenotypes and endotypes of asthma acknowledged in children will be discussed.
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