Is mild asthma in real life always in the Green Zone?

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that is characterized by variable narrowing of the airways and symptoms of intermittent dyspnea, wheezing, and nighttime or early-morning coughing. Asthma is a major health problem throughout the world, affecting an estimated 315 million persons of all ages. Asthma is clinically heterogeneous, and its pathophysiology is complex. For convenience, asthma action plans are often broken down into three zones, usually based on peak flow meter recordings: green, yellow, and red according to the level of lung function impairment. Recent evidence shows that every asthmatic is potentially at risk for severe exacerbation independently of his/her …

Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps impact in severe asthma patients: Evidences from the Severe Asthma Network Italy (SANI) registry

Abstract Background The clinical and laboratory features of patients enrolled in the Severe Asthma Network in Italy (SANI) registry, a web-based observatory collecting demographic, clinical, functional and inflammatory data of patients with severe asthma were evaluated, with a special emphasis to chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP). Methods For each eligible patients the following information has been collected: demographic data, clinical features, asthma control in the previous month according to the GINA (Global INitiative for Asthma) Guidelines and standardized questionnaires, concomitant regular and on demand treatments and inflammatory markers. Results 695 patients wit…

Reply to: Kow CS et al. Are severe asthma patients at higher risk of developing severe outcomes from COVID-19?

Biomarkers in obstructive respiratory diseases: An update

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by chronic inflammation of the airways, with the involvement of many inflammatory cells and mediators. Traditionally, this inflammation is thought to spread to a systemic level, thus inducing damage of different organs. However, other pathogenetic mechanisms could take part to the above-described process, and some open questions need to be solved. Due to the burden and increasing prevalence of COPD, the opportunity to find biomarkers that can potentially be useful in identifying individuals with the disease, or better, prior to symptoms onset, to diagnose and properly manage the respiratory symptoms, as well as to evaluate the re…