Predicting the response to bronchial thermoplasty

Abstract Background Whilst it is established that not all patients respond to bronchial thermoplasty (BT), the factors that predict response/non-response are largely unknown. Objectives The aim of this study was to identify baseline factors that predict clinical response. Methods The records of 77 consecutive patients entered into the Australian Bronchial Thermoplasty Register were examined for baseline clinical characteristics, and outcomes measured at 6 and 12 months post BT, such as change in the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ), exacerbation frequency, the requirement for short acting reliever medication (SABA) and oral corticosteroids, and improvement in spirometry. Results This was a cohort of severe asthmatics: aged 57.7±11.4 yrs, 57.1% female, 53.2% of patient taking maintenance oral steroids, 43% having been treated with a monoclonal antibody, mean FEV1 of 55.8±19.8%predicted.BT resulted in an improvement in ACQ from 3.2±1.0 at baseline to 1.6±1.1 at 6 months (p Conclusion The most severely afflicted patients had the greatest improvements in ACQ, exacerbation frequency and medication requirement.