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Review
. 2015 Oct 1:13:20.
doi: 10.1186/s12948-015-0027-7. eCollection 2015.

Biomarkers and severe asthma: a critical appraisal

Alessandra Chiappori #  1 , Laura De Ferrari #  1 , Chiara Folli  1 , Pierluigi Mauri  2 , Anna Maria Riccio  1 , Giorgio Walter Canonica  1
Affiliations
Review

Biomarkers and severe asthma: a critical appraisal

Alessandra Chiappori et al. Clin Mol Allergy. .

Abstract

Severe asthma (SA) is a clinically and etiologically heterogeneous respiratory disease which affects among 5-10 % of asthmatic patients. Despite high-dose therapy, a large patients percentage is not fully controlled and has a poor quality of life. In this review, we describe the biomarkers actually known in scientific literature and used in clinical practice for SA assessment and management: neutrophils, eosinophils, periostin, fractional exhaled nitric oxide, exhaled breath condensate and galectins. Moreover, we give an overview on clinical and biological features characterizing severe asthma, paying special attention to the potential use of these ones as reliable markers. We finally underline the need to define different biomarkers panels to select patients affected by severe asthma for specific and personalized therapeutic approach.

Keywords: Allergic inflammation; Biomarkers; Eosinophil; Exhaled nitric oxide; Galectin; Monoclonal antibodies; Neutrophil; Periostin; Severe asthma.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Changes in exhaled breath condensate mediators values in severe asthma.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Possible clinical meaning of Galectin 3 in severe asthma.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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