Focal bronchial dilatations after thermoplasty for severe asthma. Issue 3 (14th September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Thibaut de Ménonville, Charlotte; Debray, Marie-Pierre; Alavoine, Loubna; Dombret, Marie-Christine; Khalil, Antoine; Brillet, Pierre-Yves; Aubier, Michel; Taillé, Camille
• Is Part Of: ERJ open research. Volume 6:Issue 3(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-09-14
• Subjects: Respiratory organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Respiration -- Periodicals; Respiration; Respiratory organs -- Diseases; Respiratory organs -- Diseases -- Treatment; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Electronic journals; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; Periodical; 616.2005
• DOI: 10.1183/23120541.00117-2020
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2312-0541

Abstract

Bronchial thermoplasty (BT) is a non-pharmacological alternative treatment for severe asthma [1, 2]. BT consists of applying radiofrequency energy to the airways that are distal to the lobar bronchi and >3 mm, to reduce airway smooth muscle mass and bronchial hyperreactivity. However, concerns have been raised about long-term safety, especially risk of bronchial stenosis or bronchiectasis. Indeed, morphological changes in bronchial tubes, such as bronchiectasis or widening of the airways, have been occasionally described during follow-up [3–7]. However, bronchial changes have not been systematically assessed by computed tomography (CT), especially in large prospective cohorts [2, 3, 8, 9]. Focal bronchial dilatations develop after bronchial thermoplasty (BT) in 58% of patients with severe asthma. This suggests a need for systematic evaluation by CT scan after BT, with specific focus on bronchial dilatation development. https://bit.ly/2AYuhMj