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Add-on Effects of Suplatast Tosilate in Bronchial Asthma Patients Treated With Inhaled Corticosteroids

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Abstract

Th2 cytokines play an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma. In the present study, we investigated the effect of suplatast tosilate, a selective Th2 cytokine inhibitor, on asthma control, in terms of subjective symptoms and pulmonary function in patients treated with inhaled corticosteroids. Thirty-eight patients with bronchial asthma being treated with inhaled corticosteroids were given suplatast tosilate (100 mg three times daily) for 12 weeks, in a multicenter setting. During the study period, other medications were continued. Morning and evening peak expiratory flow, asthma symptoms, blood eosinophil count and serum IgE levels were monitored. Suplatast tosilate treatment was associated with a significant improvement in mean morning peak expiratory flow (from 295 L/min to 348 L/min, P < 0.01) and evening peak expiratory flow (from 313 L/min to 357 L/min, P < 0.01). The mean daily variation in peak expiratory flow was significantly reduced (from 11.6% to 7.3%, P < 0.01) by suplatast tosilate treatment. The greatest improvement in peak expiratory flow was observed in patients whose blood eosinophil counts were decreased by suplatast tosilate treatment. Treatment with suplatast tosilate improved pulmonary function in patients with bronchial asthma. Our results suggest the therapeutic effects observed may occur through suppression of eosinophilic inflammation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tokushima Prefectural Central Hospital, Tokushima, Japan

    T. Sano & H. Bando

  2. National Kochi Hospital, Kochi, Japan

    Y. Nakamura

  3. Department of Internal Medicine and Molecular Therapeutics, The University of Tokushima School of Medicine, Tokushima, Japan

    H. Yanagawa & S. Sone

  4. Nishikagawa Hospital, Kagawa, Japan

    A. Nii

  5. JA Kochi Hospital, Kochi, Japan

    S. Yoshida

Authors
  1. T. Sano
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  2. Y. Nakamura
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  3. H. Yanagawa
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  4. H. Bando
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  5. A. Nii
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  6. S. Yoshida
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  7. S. Sone
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. Yanagawa.

Appendix

Appendix

The following centers are part of the Higashishikoku Asthma Research Group: Department of Internal Medicine and Molecular Therapeutics, The University of Tokushima School of Medicine: Hiroaki Yanagawa, Masahiko Azuma, Saburo Sone; Tokushima Prefectural Central Hospital: Takahiro Sano, Hiroyasu Bando; National Kochi Hospital: Yoichi Nakamura, Tokuji Motoki; Nishikagawa Hospital: Akihiko Nii; Kochi Municipal Hospital: Hiroyuki Doi; JA Kochi Hospital: Yasutake Takahashi, Seiji Yoshida; Takamatsu Red Cross Hospital: Masaki Kobayashi; Kochi Red Cross Hospital: Eiji Takeuchi, Takaki Hashimoto; Tokushima Prefectural Miyoshi Hospital: Kanji Asada; Heisei Hospital: Junnosuke Mukai; Handa Hospital: Takashi Haku, Osamu Namikawa.

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Sano, T., Nakamura, Y., Yanagawa, H. et al. Add-on Effects of Suplatast Tosilate in Bronchial Asthma Patients Treated With Inhaled Corticosteroids . Lung 181, 227–235 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-003-1025-y

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