Steroid sensitivity in the respiratory tract
Embargo Date
2017-04-01
OA Version
Citation
Abstract
Increasing evidence indicates that current clinical treatment and management of asthma in the United States does not sufficiently control the disease. The incidence of asthma is reaching record highs. Nonetheless, although a great emphasis is being placed on current asthma treatment practices, the number of asthmatic individuals experiencing exacerbations and living with uncontrolled asthma remains dangerously high. Currently, steroid treatment is the pharmacologic pillar of asthma management. However, current data suggests that numerous asthmatic individuals currently on steroid treatments are not experiencing improved disease symptoms while on the drugs. Presently, there is a relative absence of literature exploring mechanisms that possibly mediate steroid insensitivity in asthmatics. However, consideration of current literature does suggest that there may be an overlay between airway microbiome and steroid sensitivity. This study attempts to identify a possible relationship between airway bacterial burden and steroid sensitivity in asthmatics in the hopes of improving the medical management of asthma in the United States.