Severe Eosinophilic Asthma

What is Severe Eosinophilic Asthma?

Asthma is considered “severe” when it is uncontrolled despite the best-suited treatment being used correctly and diligently, and any factor that may contribute to the asthma is managed, or asthma that worsens when high dose treatment is decreased.^{17 (Solidoro A)}

Eosinophilic asthma is caused by an increased number of eosinophils. Eosinophils are a specific type of white blood cell (making up about 5 % of all white blood cells) which help us fight off infections, and are therefore an important part of our immune system.^{18,19 APfed x2 A,B}

The condition is generally very severe and seen in people that developed asthma as adults, but it may very seldomly be seen in children or teenagers.¹⁹

Eosinophilic asthma is very similar in many ways to allergic asthma, but it differs from allergic asthma in that those that struggle with eosinophilic asthma do not necessarily experience a trigger from an allergen (such as pollen, pet dander, smoke), and they often struggle with chronic sinusitis or nasal polyps.^{19 Apfed A,B}

Of all asthmatics, 1 in 3 may have eosinophilic asthma.^{20 Pembrey B}

The diagnosis of Eosinophilic Asthma

The diagnosis of asthma usually includes lung function tests and a FeNO test (Fractional exhaled Nitric Oxide test), which measures the level of inflammation in your lungs.^{3,20 NHLBI H, Pembrey A}

To test for eosinophilic asthma, your healthcare provider will send either blood or sputum to a laboratory to test for eosinophils.^{21 Patel A}

The above tests, as well as certain biomarkers can indicate what type of asthma a person has, as well as what type of treatment would probably be most effective.^{22 Oppenheimer A}

Treatment

Patients with severe eosinophilic asthma are usually treated with the same treatment as those with less severe allergic asthma, which are inhaled bronchodilators and/or corticosteroids. Unfortunately, these may not be completely effective to manage severe eosinophilic asthma.^{21 Patel B}

Newer biologic therapies, called monoclonal antibodies, are more individualised treatment prescribed to help manage this condition. They work on different targets or biomarkers in the body, which makes the diagnosis tests very important.^{17 Solidoro C}

Biologics have been proven to:^{17 Solidoro B}

Reduce the incidence of asthma attacks
Improve control of asthma (as measured by the Asthma Control Test)
It can reduce the amount of corticosteroid needed to control the condition

Available asthma biologic treatments do not need to be taken daily. They are injected (self or by healthcare provider) either bi-weekly or every 2nd month as an add on to a patient’s existing maintenance to the existing asthma treatment.^{21 Patel C}

Activity ID: ZA-5512. Expiry Date: September 2026