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Abstract
Evaluation of: Haldar P, Brightling CE, Hargadon B et al. Mepolizumab and exacerbations of refractory eosinophilic asthma. N. Engl. J. Med. 360, 973–984 (2009).
Although many asthmatics have mild symptoms or are well-controlled with current anti-asthma therapies, there is a subpopulation of patients who suffer from severe asthma, characterized by persistent symptoms and frequent exacerbations, despite therapy. Such patients with refractory asthma often show eosinophilia in their sputum, which is considered a potential marker for the identification of such patients. Because eosinophils are implicated in the pathogenesis of refractory asthma, they have become a target for potential therapeutic interventions. The current prospective study evaluates the effectiveness of mepolizumab, an agent that targets IL-5, which is a mediator of eosinophilia in patients with refractory asthma and sputum eosinophilia. The study shows that this treatment reduced eosinophilia and was associated with a significant reduction in asthma exacerbations.
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Financial & competing interests disclosure
The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.