2. Outline
• Definition
• Diagnosis
• New Updates from GINA 2019
• Exacerbation management
• New biologicals
• Points to ponder
• References
3. Defintion
Asthma is a heterogenous disease, usually
characterised by chronic airway inflammation. It is
defined by the history of respiratory symptoms such
as wheeze, shortness of breath, chest tightness and
cough that vary over time and in intensity, together
with variable expiratory airflow limitation
4. Diagnosis
1. History of variable respiratory symptoms:
wheeze, cough, chest tightness
2. Confirmed expiratory airflow limitation:
• Positive bronchodilator reversibility test
• Excessive variability in twice-daily PEF over 2 weeks
• Significant increase in LFT after 2 weeks of anti-
inflammatory therapy
• Positive exercise challenge test
5. FENO
• Fractional concentration
of excretion of nitric oxide
• Elevated levels are
associated with high
eosinophil levels in blood and sputum
• Falsely low in smokers and during
bronchoconstriction
• Not recommended to diagnose asthma or decide on
ICS therapy
https://www.niox.com/images/1015/nurse-feno-testing-male-patient.png
8. Problem with SABA only
• Airway inflammation is found in most patients with
asthma
• Regular use increases allergic response and airway
inflammation
9. Why spacer is recommended?
• Less deposition of drug in pharynx, hence better
drug delivery
• Less co-ordination needed
10. MDI with Spacer Technique
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/d1/16/01/d116013bf9cc56b6592d1d7eb27b6878.jpg
14. Other measures to reduce flare-up
• Smoking cessation
• Weight reduction in obestity
• Food avoidance in confirmed food allergy
15. Exacerbation
• Acute or sub-acute worsening in symptoms and
lung function from the patient’s usual status.
16. Exacerbation: Risk Factors
• Medication related: No ICS use, Poor adherence,
Wrong technique, High SABA use
• Comorbidities: Obesity, Sinusitis, GERD, Confirmed
food allergy, anxiety, depression, pregnancy
• Exposures: Smoking, air pollution
• Eosinophilia
• FEV1 < 60% predicted
17. Status asthmaticus
• SABA: Salbutamol 2.5mg Q20min for 60 min then
Q1H, given with 0.25 to 0.5mg of ipratropium
improve FEV1
• Corticosteroids: IV methylprednisolone 60-125mg
Q6H for 24 hours
• MagSulf: 2gm IV over 20 minutes
• NOT RECOMMENDED: IV aminophylline
• Use of NIV not established as in COPD
Chakraborty RK, Basnet S. Status Asthmaticus. [Updated 2019 Nov 29]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls
Publishing; 2019 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526070/
18. New Biologicals
• Anti IL5 – Mepolizumab, Reslizumab
• Anti IL5 receptor – Benralizumab
• Anti IL4 receptor - Dupilumab
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMskfJ9FAkI
19. Points to ponder
• Routine use of antibiotics in exacerbations.
• MDI vs Nebuliser in ED
• Using PEFR to categorize severity
• Criteria to admit??