Eosinophilic asthma
FAQs
The following are questions frequently asked by patients and caregivers about eosinophilic asthma (this subtype of type 2 asthma is sometimes also called eos asthma or e-asthma).
What is an eosinophil?
Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell that help fight off certain types of infections and play a role in immune surveillance.
Increased eosinophils can be seen in a variety of conditions including allergy (food and environmental), parasite infections, and certain cancers, to name a few.
What type of doctor treats eos asthma?
Pulmonologists, allergists, and immunologists all treat eosinophilic asthma. The type of doctor an asthmatic patient is seen by may depend on a variety of factors, such as the subtype of asthma they were diagnosed with, additional health conditions, or their access to local specialists.
Will eosinophilic inflammation damage my airways?
Patients with eos asthma have increased eosinophils as a result of persistent inflammation. This has been associated with an increased number of asthma attacks and the decline of lung function. However, the relationship between eosinophilic inflammation, airflow obstruction, and hyper-responsiveness is not yet well understood. Patients who have eos asthma should receive ongoing care to maintain their health.
What therapies are FDA-approved to treat eos asthma?
For patients with eos asthma who do not respond to inhaled steroids and long-acting bronchodilators, other FDA-approved add-on options include benralizumab, mepolizumab, reslizumab, or dupilumab.
Is research being conducted for eos asthma?
Several clinical trials are currently underway. Many of the trials are focused on emerging biologic therapies to control the symptoms of eos asthma.
Is eosinophilic asthma an autoimmune disease?
An autoimmune disease is one in which a part of the body’s immune system attacks its own cells that make up part of the body, such as skin, connective or joint tissue, intestinal tissue, nerve cells. Asthma is characterized by chronic inflammation of the respiratory airways. This inflammation can be caused by exposure to allergens or other triggers. A dysregulated immune system can both result in asthma and autoimmune diseases. While both conditions are usually considered to be mutually exclusive, the hypothesis of autoimmunity in asthma is still being explored, particularly for those who have no history of allergic conditions and develop asthma in adulthood.
What is the difference between asthma and eosinophilic asthma?
Unlike other kinds of asthma, eosinophilic asthma involves high levels of eosinophils. If you have high levels of eosinophils, a doctor may diagnose you with an eosinophilic phenotype, or subset, of asthma.
