Abstract
Asthma is a heterogeneous disease in which adequate asthma control cannot be achieved in a substantial proportion despite currently available treatment possibilities. This subgroup has been defined as “severe refractory” asthma. Over the past years considerable progress has been made regarding a more exact definition of severe refractory asthma. A systematic approach to evaluate the asthma patient has been postulated. Further detailed classification into distinct phenotypes is ongoing to target the right treatment to the right patient. And, new therapeutic targeted treatment options are currently in development to provide possible new targets to improve disease state, symptoms and quality of life. This review will provide an update on the latest advancements with regard to all these domains.
Footnotes
Provenance: Publication of this peer-reviewed article was supported by the World Scleroderma Foundation, Switzerland (principal sponsor, European Respiratory Review issue 129).
Conflict of interest: Disclosures can be found alongside the online version of this article at err.ersjournals.com
- Received March 30, 2013.
- Accepted April 25, 2013.
- ©ERS 2013
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- Article
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Defining severe refractory asthma
- Aggravating factors and comorbidities
- Subphenotypes of severe refractory asthma
- Current treatment of severe asthma
- Phenotype-specific treatment
- Other targeted treatments
- Nonpharmacological “targeted” treatment
- Future perspectives and conclusion
- Footnotes
- References
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