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Bronchial thermoplasty for the treatment of asthma

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Abstract

Asthma is an increasingly prevalent disease, particularly in industrialized countries. With modern treatment, many patients can expect good asthma control; however, a significant minority continue to have excessive symptoms. Bronchial thermoplasty is a novel approach to treating asthma in which the hypertrophied airway smooth muscle present in the asthmatic airway is specifically targeted and depleted using thermal energy. In this article, we review the early animal and human development of the technique, summarize the randomized trials carried out in patients to date, discuss proposed mechanisms of action, and suggest directions for future work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Respiratory Medicine, Allergy and Thoracic Surgery, Institute for Lung Health, Glenfield Hospital, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, LE3 9QP, UK

    Ian D. Pavord

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  1. Neil Martin
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  2. Ian D. Pavord
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Correspondence to Ian D. Pavord.

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Martin, N., Pavord, I.D. Bronchial thermoplasty for the treatment of asthma. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 9, 88–95 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-009-0013-6

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