Bronchial thermoplasty for severe uncontrolled asthma in Japan

• Published in: Allergology International Vol. 67; no. 2; pp. 273 - 275
• Main Authors: Iikura, Motoyasu, Hojo, Masayuki, Nagano, Naoko, Sakamoto, Keita, Kobayashi, Konomi, Yamamoto, Shota, Hashimoto, Masao, Ishii, Satoru, Izumi, Shinyu, Sugiyama, Haruhito
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Japanese
• Published: England Elsevier B.V 01.04.2018; JAPANESE SOCIETY OF ALLERGOLOGY; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Asthma - physiopathology; Asthma - therapy; Bronchial Thermoplasty; Female; Humans; Japan; Male; Middle Aged; Quality of Life; Treatment Outcome; Japan
• ISSN: 1323-8930; 1440-1592
• DOI: 10.1016/j.alit.2017.07.006

Dear Editor, Bronchial thermoplasty (BT) is an effective non-pharmacological therapy for patients with severe uncontrolled asthma. BT has been known to inhibit bronchoconstriction by reducing airway smooth muscles, improving asthma-related quality of life (QOL) and reducing the frequency of severe exacerbation for at least 5 years. BT treatment has been available in Japan since 2015. The present study investigated the effectiveness and safety of BT treatment in Japanese patients. Methods, including patient characteristics, are shown in Table 1 and the Supplementary Methods. Outcomes are shown in Table 2. Asthma-related Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ) and Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ)-5 scores were improved at both 1 and 12 months after BT. Mean FEV1 was increased at 1 and 12 months. The typical improvement in symptoms was a resolution or decrease in the frequency of night awakening, wheezing, exertional dyspnea, work discontinuation, cough, sputum production, and chest tightness. This improvement was observed from 1 month after BT and was sustained for at least 12 months. The mean annual number of severe exacerbations requiring systemic corticosteroids decreased from 5.8 to 2.0 at 12 months after BT.