Interleukin-5 (IL-5) is known to play a major role in the growth, differentiation, recruitment, and activation of eosinophils. The authors review the efficacy and safety of two IL-5-targeting agents used in the treatment of eosinophilic asthma.

Eleven patients with asthma and aspirin hypersensitivity have been challenged with eight non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Each drug was given by mouth in at least three different doses and the patients' symptoms and peak expiratory flow (PEF) rates were observed over a three-hour period. Indomethacin 5 mg caused bronchoconstriction in all patients. Therapeutic doses of mefenamic or flufen...

Mepolizumab (Nucala) for severe eosinophilic asthma.

In a single-blind, randomised, crossover study in 10 asthmatic patients, the effects of approximately equipotent oral doses of 3 cardioselective beta-blockers-atenolol (100 mg), metoprolol (100 mg), and acebutolol (300 mg)-and 4 non-cardioselective beta-blockers-proranolol (100 mg), oxprenolol (100 mg), pindolol (5 mg), and timolol (10 mg) upon FEV1 were compared. All drugs, except pindolol, pr...

Despite progress made in modern medical science herbal drugs constitute a major share of all the officially recognized systems of health in India viz. Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy and Naturopathy. More than 70% of India’s 1.1 billion populations still use these non-allopathic systems of medicine. Asthma severity is the intrinsic intensity of the disease process and dictates which s...

During a Florida red tide, brevetoxins produced by the dinoflagellate Karenia brevis become aerosolized and cause airway symptoms in humans, especially in those with pre-existing airway disease (e.g., asthma). To understand these toxin-induced airway effects, we used sheep with airway hypersensitivity to Ascaris suum antigen as a surrogate for asthmatic patients and studied changes in pulmonary...

regard, the recent article by Yellowlees and Kalucy (Chest 1990; 97:628-34) and the accompanying editorial by Gorman (Chest 1990; 97:514-15) were of great interest. With respect to the apparent efficacy of anti-depressant medications in asthmatic patients, however, it is important to consider the antihistaminic properties (which are not widely appreciated) that these agents possess. Tricyclic a...

Controlled standardised histamine inhalation tests were carried out in 21 asthmatics to determine the degree of non-specific bronchial hyperreactivity with and without prior treatment with several anti-asthmatic drugs. A significant protective effect was produced by inhaled salbutamol, 200 microgram, ingested salbutamol, 4 mg, inhaled Sch1000, 40 microgram inhaled atropine sulphate, 290 microgr...