scholarly journals Recent advances in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

F1000Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 863 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon R Rosenberg ◽  
Ravi Kalhan
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Inhaled Corticosteroids ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Inhaled Corticosteroid ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Corticosteroid Withdrawal ◽  
Recent Advances ◽  
Additional Therapy

Novel pharmacotherapies introduce additional options to providers and patients in how to best treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Emerging data question the role of inhaled corticosteroids in COPD treatment, particularly as combination dual bronchodilator pharmacotherapies demonstrate robust results. For those maximized on pharmacotherapy with continued dyspnea or exacerbations or both, emerging bronchoscopic procedures may offer additional therapy in select patients. This review focuses on data supporting the use of novel ultra bronchodilators, particularly in combination, and on the role for inhaled corticosteroid withdrawal and new bronchoscopic procedures.

scholarly journals Reassessing the Role of Eosinophils as a Biomarker in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 962 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tinè ◽  
Biondini ◽  
Semenzato ◽  
Bazzan ◽  
Cosio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Inhaled Corticosteroids ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Copd Patients ◽  
Exacerbation Risk ◽  
Blood Eosinophils

Blood eosinophils measurement, as proxy for tissue eosinophils, has become an important biomarker for exacerbation risk and response to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Its use to determine the pharmacological approach is recommended in the latest COPD guidelines. The potential role of blood eosinophils is mainly based on data derived from post-hoc and retrospective analyses that showed an association between increased blood eosinophils and risk of exacerbations, as well as mitigation of this risk with ICS. Yet other publications, including studies in real life COPD, do not confirm these assumptions. Moreover, anti-eosinophil therapy targeting interleukin (IL)-5 failed to reduce exacerbations in COPD patients with high blood eosinophils, which casts significant doubts on the role of eosinophils in COPD. Furthermore, a reduction of eosinophils might be harmful since COPD patients with relatively high eosinophils have better pulmonary function, better life quality, less infections and longer survival. These effects are probably linked to the role of eosinophils in the immune response against pathogens. In conclusion, in COPD, high blood eosinophils are widely used as a biomarker for exacerbation risk and response to ICS. However, much is yet to be learned about the reasons for the high eosinophil counts, their variations and their controversial effects on the fate of COPD patients.

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