JACI supplement supports the importance of small airways in asthma management

Increasing evidence supports the importance of small airways in the diagnosis and treatment of asthma; however, focused areas of discussion and critical review of this topic have been lacking. To foster a better understanding of the role of small airways in asthma management, Teva Respiratory, a subsidiary of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Nasdaq: TEVA), will be providing reprints of a special supplement entitled "Small Airway Involvement: A Key to Asthma" from the December issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI) at their exhibit (Booth #724) at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) Annual Meeting being held Feb. 26-March 2, 2010 in New Orleans, La.

While there has been significant progress in the diagnosis of asthma, including prevention, education and treatment, asthma remains a major public health concern as millions of people still experience flare ups and miss school and work days as a result every year. Asthma at all levels of severity is the result of chronic inflammation in both the large and small airways, and if left untreated can result in permanent structure changes to the airways, whether patients are symptomatic or not.

The special JACI supplement provides a comprehensive scientific review of the emerging role of the small airways in the understanding and treatment of asthma, a key topic being discussed at the Annual Meeting.  This publication represents the first time leading researchers from various institutions in the U.S. and Canada have organized information surrounding the small airways in asthma to set a benchmark for additional discussion and future research in this area.

"It is important for both patients and physicians to have a clear understanding of the role of the small airways in the pathology of asthma," said study author Richard J. Martin, MD, Chairman, Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health in Denver, Colo. "Poorly controlled inflammation in the small airways may exacerbate asthma symptoms, such as coughing and shortness of breath, which may lead to an asthma attack or need to seek emergency care. Physicians should consider an inhaled corticosteroid controller medication with a small particle size that delivers medication to both the large and small airways."

The below chart highlights the four articles included in the JACI supplement that were developed following the April 2009 symposium at which leading asthma specialists discussed various aspects surrounding the importance of small airways in asthma management:

National guidelines recommend inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) as first-line therapy to achieve asthma control; however, most of these medications do not reach and treat the small airways due to their large particle size, therefore, small airway inflammation may remain largely uncontrolled. There are treatments available with extra-fine particle size, such as QVAR®, which allows asthma control to be delivered deep in the lung, due to more effective penetration throughout the large and small airways. Patients should talk to their healthcare provider to learn more about available treatment options that reach and treat both large and small airways.

SOURCE Teva Respiratory, a subsidiary of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.