Allergic inflammation ups the risk of thunderstorm asthma: Study

Based on the study, the researchers reported the following findings:

· From a total of 228 individuals with SAR, 35% reported SAR only (the I-SAR group), 37% reported TA symptoms but had not attended hospital for treatment (the O-TA group), and 28% had presented to the hospital for TA (the H-TA group).

· All patients in the H-TA group reported a previous asthma diagnosis.

· Logistic regression analysis of factors associated with O-TA and H-TA indicated that a lower FEV₁ value and an Asthma Control Questionnaire score higher than 1.5 were associated with H-TA.

· Higher blood RGP-sp IgE concentration, eosinophil counts, and fractional exhaled nitric oxide levels were significantly associated with both O-TA and H-TA.

· Receiver operating curve analysis showed an RGP-sp IgE concentration higher than 10.1 kU/L and a prebronchodilator FEV₁ value of 90% or lower to be biomarkers of increased H-TA risk.

To conclude, clinical tests can identify the risk of a history of TA in individuals with SAR and thereby inform patient-specific treatment recommendations.

Reference:

Douglass JA, Lodge C, Chan S, Doherty A, Tan JA, Jin C, Stewart A, Southcott AM, Gillman A, Lee J, Csutoros D, Hannan L, Ruane L, Barnes S, Irving L, Harun NS, Lachapelle P, Spriggs K, Sutherland M, See K, McDonald CF, Conron M, Radhakrishna N, Worsnop C, Johnston FH, Davies JM, Bryant V, Iles L, Ranson D, Spanos P, Vicendese D, Lowe A, Newbigin EJ, Bardin P, Dharmage S. Thunderstorm asthma in seasonal allergic rhinitis: The TAISAR study. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2022 May;149(5):1607-1616. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2021.10.028. Epub 2021 Nov 11. PMID: 34774618.