Bronchial thermoplasty helps asthma patients stop taking LABAs

If you have severe persistent asthma, bronchial thermoplasty (BT) may help you stop taking long-acting beta2-agonists (LABAs) according to a new study presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology annual meeting in Phoenix, Nov. 11-16. This novel procedure delivers thermal energy to the airway wall to reduce airway constriction.

BT is approved in the U.S. for patients taking moderate to high dose inhaled corticosteroids and LABAs but who remain symptomatic. Participants with moderate to severe persistent asthma treated with BT sustained significant relief from symptoms when LABAs were withdrawn compared to those who had not received BT. "This is great news for asthma sufferers since the FDA recently issued guidelines promoting the restricted use of LABAs whenever possible," according to study authors.