New data provide comprehensive review of emerging role of small airways in asthma management

Dec 8 2009

Teva Respiratory, a division of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Nasdaq: TEVA), today announced the publication of four articles in a special supplement of the December issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI), providing a comprehensive scientific review of the emerging role of the small airways in the understanding and treatment of asthma.

This represents the first time leading researchers from various institutions in the U.S. and Canada have organized information surrounding the small airways in asthma to set a benchmark for additional discussion and future research in this area.

Although increasing evidence supports the importance of small airways in the diagnosis and treatment of asthma, focused areas of discussion and critical review of this topic have been lacking. Additionally, while there has been significant progress in the diagnosis of asthma, including prevention, education and treatment, asthma remains a major public health concern as millions of people still experience flare ups and miss school and work days as a result every year.

"It is important for both patients and physicians to have a clear understanding of the role of the small airways in the pathology of asthma," said study author Richard J. Martin, MD, Chairman, Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health in Denver, CO. "Poorly controlled inflammation in the small airways may exacerbate asthma symptoms, such as coughing and shortness of breath, which may lead to an asthma attack or need to seek emergency care. Physicians should consider an inhaled corticosteroid controller medication with a small particle size that delivers medication to both the large and small airways."