Determinants of Corticosteroid Insensitivity in Smokers With Asthma

University of Glasgow53 enrolled

Overview

Smokers with asthma display a relative insensitivity to inhaled and oral corticosteroids. The causes of this phenomenon are currently unknown. The investigators will perform a number of blood \& breathing tests to try to discover the cause/s behind this phenomenon with the aim of producing leads for further investigation and possible new treatments for smokers with asthma.

Smokers with asthma display a relative insensitivity to inhaled and oral corticosteroids. The causes of this phenomenon are currently unknown. However research into steroid resistance in severe asthma and the smoking related condition chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) points to a number of possible causes. We will characterise a group of smokers with asthma and perform a number of investigations and compare the results to ex-smokers and never smokers with asthma with the aim of establishing which previously published steroid resistance phenomena are related to the steroid resistance displayed by smokers with asthma. Results produced from this trial will provide hypothesis generating information leading to future pharmaceutical trials.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Asthma Smoking Steroid Resistance Corticosteroid Insensitivity

Interventions

oral steroid-dexamethasoneDRUG

2 week steroid trial

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 60 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Asthma (defined by either reversibility to bronchodilator or methacholine testing) * Asthma duration of 6 months or greater * Stable asthma * Age 18-60 * Treatment with inhaled corticosteroids * Smoking history consistent with group * smokers with asthma: \> or = 5 pack years and currently smoking more than 5 cigarettes per day * ex-smokers: smoking ceased \> or = two years prior to recruitment, minimum 5 pack year history * non-smokers: no smoking history Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of medical condition likely to be exacerbated by treatment with oral corticosteroids * Treatment with \> 2000 mcg beclomethasone (or equivalent) per day * Subject requires oral corticosteroids to maintain asthma control * Subject requires oral theophylline to maintain asthma control * Recent treatment with oral corticosteroids * Pregnancy or subject planning to become pregnant

Locations (1)

Asthma Research Unit, Glasgow University

Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

bronchodilator response to oral corticosteroid trial in smokers with asthma vs non smokers and ex-smokers with asthma

Time frame: 2 weeks

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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