Saline Challenge in Monitoring Asthma Control

Summary

It is generally accepted that symptoms and lung function are not sufficient ways to monitor asthma control. Therefore, several objective tests have been developed to help asthma control monitoring, each having their own shortcomings. We have developed a new test, the hypertonic saline cough challenge. In our previous publication this test has proven useful in diagnosing asthma. The present study is planned to investigate whether hypertonic saline cough challenge could be used to monitor asthma control. A group of steroid-naive asthmatics will be recruited. A treatment with inhaled budesonide is started. Asthma control is monitored at regular intervals utilising a validated questionnaire. At the same time points, hypertonic saline cough challenges will be performed. We will analyse whether changes in the responsiveness to the cough challenge reflects the changes in asthma control

Timeline

Start

2009-03

Primary completion

2013-10

Completion

2013-10

Publications

• Koskela HO, Purokivi MK. Airway oxidative stress in chronic cough. Cough. 2013 Dec 2;9(1):26. doi: 10.1186/1745-9974-9-26.
• Koskela HO, Purokivi MK. Capability of hypertonic saline cough provocation test to predict the response to inhaled corticosteroids in chronic cough: a prospective, open-label study. Cough. 2013 May 20;9:15. doi: 10.1186/1745-9974-9-15. eCollection 2013.

Drugs

Indications