Inhaled steroids are associated with reduced lung function decline in subjects with asthma with elevated total IgE

Roberto de Marco*, Alessandro Marcon, Deborah Jarvis, Simone Accordini, Massimiliano Bugiani, Lucia Cazzoletti, Isa Cerveri, Angelo Corsico, David Gislason, Amund Gulsvik, Rain Jõgi, Jesús Martínez-Moratalla, Isabelle Pin, Christer Janson

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

41 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Few studies have investigated the long-term association between inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) and lung function decline in asthma. Objective: To evaluate whether prolonged treatment with ICSs is associated with FEV1 decline in adults with asthma. Methods: An international cohort of 667 subjects with asthma (20-44 years old) was identified in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (1991-1993) and followed up from 1999 to 2002. Spirometry was performed on both occasions. FEV1 decline was analyzed according to age, sex, height, body mass index, total IgE, time of ICS use, and smoking, while adjusting for potential confounders. Results: As ICS use increased, the decline in FEV1 was lower (P trend = .025): on average, decline passed from 34 mL/y in nonusers (half of the sample) to 20 mL/y in subjects treated for 48 months or more (18%). When adjusting for all covariates, there was an interaction (P = .02) between ICS use and total IgE: in subjects with high (>100 kU/L) IgE, ICS use for 4 years or more was associated with a lower FEV1 decline (23 mL/y; 95% CI, 8-38 compared with nonusers). This association was not seen in those with lower IgE. Conclusion: Although confirming a beneficial long-term association between ICSs and lung function in asthma, our study suggests that subjects with high IgE could maximally benefit from a prolonged ICS treatment. Clinical implications: This study adds further evidence to the beneficial effect of inhaled steroids on lung function in asthma; future studies will clarify whether calibrating the corticosteroid dose according to the level of total IgE is a feasible approach in asthma management.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)611-617
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Volume119
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2007
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The coordination of the ECRHS II was supported by the European Commission as part of their Quality of Life program.

Keywords

  • Asthma
  • ECRHS
  • European Community Respiratory Health Survey
  • FEV decline
  • eosinophils
  • inhaled corticosteroids
  • lung function decline
  • prospective cohort study
  • total IgE

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Inhaled steroids are associated with reduced lung function decline in subjects with asthma with elevated total IgE'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this