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Updated: Jun 3, 2025

Bronchial Thermoplasty: A Novel Therapeutic Approach to Severe Asthma
Published on: November 4, 2010
Background therapy in severe asthma on monoclonal antibody treatment in real life
Filippo F Cosini1, Diego Bagnasco2, Fulvio Braido2
1S.C. Pneumologia, ASL2 Savonese, Savona, Italy.
Background:
Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) recently recommends clinicians to reduce inhaled corticosteroid doses in patients with severe asthma who respond positively to monoclonal antibodies (MAbs).
Objective:
As we operated this reduction even before the document, we analysed our cohort of subjects on treatment with a MAbs for at least 24 months.
Methods:
Data stored in our electronic archive and at the 6-month follow-up (FU) were registered and patients' adherence to asthma therapy was derived by electronic pharmacy claim database.
Results:
Sixty-three subjects were enrolled. A complete asthma remission and reduction to GINA Step 3 was obtained in 41 % and 61 % of them, respectively. Non-adherent subjects to inhaled and oral asthma therapy were 45 % of them, with a higher percentage among those in complete remission (59 % vs 33 %).
Conclusion:
In our cohort, stepping down asthma therapy from 5 to 3 level in severe asthmatic patients on Mabs is without any negative consequences on asthma control, even in the case of non-adherence.
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