New perspectives in pharmacological treatment of mild persistent asthma

Drug Discov Today. 2011 Dec;16(23-24):1084-91. doi: 10.1016/j.drudis.2011.09.005. Epub 2011 Sep 10.

Abstract

Until the relationship between symptoms, lung function tests, airway inflammation, airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR), exacerbations and remodelling is clarified, regular treatment seems to enable a greater disease control than on-demand therapy in most patients with mild persistent asthma. Current guideline classification based on disease severity remains a cornerstone in asthma management. However, the heterogeneity of asthma, the growing emphasis on subphenotypes, including molecular phenotypes identified by -omics technologies, and their possible implications in terms of different asthma severity, progression and therapeutic response, are changing current asthma treatment mainly based on disease severity classification to a pharmacological strategy more focused on the individual patient.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Asthma / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents