Key Milestone In Antifungal Treatment For Severe Asthma

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Key Milestone In Antifungal Treatment For Severe Asthma

19 Jun 2005

http://www.virtualmedicalcentre.com/news.asp?artid=6772

University of Manchester researchers announced today that they have

reached a key milestone in their study of the antifungal treatment

of asthma.

It is hoped that the study, by clinical researchers based at

Manchester's Wythenshawe Hospital, will reduce steroid use and

serious attacks requiring hospital intervention for asthma

sufferers. It could also help those with cystic fibrosis and chronic

sinusitis.

Severe asthma in adults affects 10 - 20% of the UK's 5m asthmatics,

and skin tests indicate that up to 70% of these sufferers are

allergic to one or more common fungi in the air.

Previous studies have shown the benefits of one antifungal drug

[itraconazole or Sporonoxa] for the asthma subgroup known

as 'allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis' or 'ABPA'. The

University of Manchester researchers are studying the more common

association between fungal allergy and those with severe asthma who

do not have ABPA. Volunteers are screened and, if testing shows

allergy to one or more fungi, allocated itraconazole capsules or

matching dummy capsules for 8 months. So far 26 patients (25% of the

total required) have been enrolled.

Allergy to fungi is relatively common, affecting asthmatics, those

with cystic fibrosis and others with chronic sinusitis (usually with

nasal polyps). Fungi commonly implicated include airborne molds,

such as Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Alternaria and Penicillium, with

airborne fungal spores outnumbering pollen grains in outside air

almost 1000-fold. Inside the home fungi are also very common,

particularly in bedrooms and cellars, and compost is particularly

rich in fungi.

(Source: University of Manchester: June 2005.)