Can HLA-DRB4 Help to Identify Asthmatic Patients at Risk of Churg-Strauss Syndrome?
Table 1
The inquired data in the medical records of a cohort of asthmatic patients.
Sex
Age of asthma onset (median)
Follow-up (years)
Diagnosis of respiratory allergy by means of skin prick test or RAST ( radioallergosorbent test)
History of nasal polyps/nasal polypectomy
Diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis
Asthma severely persistent before treatment′′
Emergency admission for severe hypoxemic or near fatal asthma
Eosinophil number (/µL) (range)#
Eosinophils > 1000/L#
Eosinophils % (range)#
Beclomethasone > 1000–2000 g daily∧
Long acting inhaled 2-agonist (LABA)
Need of a third controller (as sustained release theophylline)
Treatment with continuous or near continuous (≥50% of year) prednisone
Final forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) expressed as a percentage of predicted value
Persistent airflow obstruction defined by a postbronchodilator FEV1/FVC ratio < 70% of predicted with FEV1 < 80% of predicted
Defined by daily symptoms, frequent exacerbations, frequent nocturnal asthma symptoms, limitation of physical activities, FEV1 or PEF ≤ 60% predicted, and PEF or FEV1 variability > 30%. ∧Or equivalents; #maximum value during the follow-up. is measured 2 hours after usual morning treatment: in case of FEV1 < 80% is measured again after 10–15 min after the administration of short acting inhaled beta-2-agonist.
