Wheezing, coughing that doesn’t stop, a pale and sweaty face: clinically, severe asthma attacks look very similar from patient to patient. But biologically, not all severe asthma is the same—and a team of scientists has, for the first time, identified the key difference in people, a finding that has important implications for treatment.
In a paper published today in Cell Reports, a group of scientists led by immunologists and pulmonologists at the University of Pittsburgh, in collaboration with Stanford University, used advanced tools of immunology, molecular biology and unbiased computational and bioinformatic approaches to characterize immune profiles of patients with severe asthma. These findings invite a new appreciation for the complexity of disease mechanisms and can lead to improved treatments.
I think that members of Asthma UK have been saying this for quite some time. I hope that it will herald the start of an improved approach to individual, holistic care.
Not exactly a novel thing though is it. It was the basis of patient centred care when I was district nursing in the 1980's. It's the doctors, I think, that never latched on to the idea.
I used to be a patient rep at respiratory events along with others, many from Breathe Easy groups. Everyone with various lung conditions would without exception make it clear that they wanted holistic healthcare. And the GPs present would look blank! Interesting you were registering this as a district nurse back in the 80s. It's so obvious and yet so many medics are impervious. But I think its also the system where our notes are all over the place if we see different consultants, so there's often no easy way of joining up the dots.
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