RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Patients with refractory asthma frequently have elements of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) with potential aspiration contributing to their poor control. We previously reported on a supraglottic index (SGI) scoring system that helps in the evaluation of LPR with potential aspiration. However, to further the usefulness of this SGI scoring system for bronchoscopists, a teaching system was developed that included both interobserver and intraobserver reproducibility. METHODS: Five pulmonologists with expertise in fiber-optic bronchoscopy but novice to the SGI participated. A training system was developed that could be used via Internet interaction to make this learning technique widely available. RESULTS: By the final testing, there was excellent interreader agreement (κ of at least 0.81), thus documenting reproducibility in scoring the SGI. For the measure of intrareader consistency, one reader was arbitrarily selected to rescore the final test 4 weeks later and had a κ value of 0.93, with a 95% CI of 0.79 to 1.00. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we demonstrate that with an organized educational approach, bronchoscopists can develop skills to have highly reproducible assessment and scoring of supraglottic abnormalities. The SGI can be used to determine which patients need additional intervention to determine causes of LPR and gastroesophageal reflux. Identification of this problem in patients with refractory asthma allows for personal, individual directed therapy to improve asthma control.
Assuntos
Asma , Broncoscopia , Refluxo Gastroesofágico/diagnóstico , Refluxo Laringofaríngeo/diagnóstico , Asma/diagnóstico , Asma/etiologia , Asma/fisiopatologia , Broncoscopia/educação , Broncoscopia/métodos , Refluxo Gastroesofágico/complicações , Humanos , Refluxo Laringofaríngeo/complicações , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Projetos de Pesquisa , Aspiração Respiratória/etiologia , Aspiração Respiratória/fisiopatologia , Índice de Gravidade de Doença , Avaliação de Sintomas/métodos , EnsinoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The pathophysiology of refractory asthma is not well understood; thus, treatment modalities are not targeted to specific phenotypes but rather to a broad-based treatment approach. The objective of this study was to develop refractory asthma phenotypes based on bronchoscopic evaluation and to develop from this information specific, directed, personalized therapy. METHODS: Fifty-eight patients with difficult-to-treat (refractory) asthma were characterized by the use of fiber-optic bronchoscopy with visual scoring systems of the upper and lower airways as well as with BAL, endobronchial biopsy, and brush. Response to changes in therapy was evaluated by changes in the Asthma Control Test and pulmonary function. RESULTS: Five mutually exclusive phenotypes were formulated based on bronchoscopic evaluation: gastroesophageal reflux, subacute bacterial infection, tissue eosinophilia, combination, and nonspecific. Specific directed therapy yielded a significant improvement in the Asthma Control Test and pulmonary function for the entire group as well as for each defined subgroup except for the nonspecific group. Of interest, visual scoring of the supraglottic abnormalities identified 34 of 35 patients with gastroesophageal reflux and may give a better insight into asthmatic problems associated with chronic proximal reflux than standard testing. CONCLUSIONS: Bronchoscopic evaluation of the upper and lower airways can provide important information toward characterizing refractory asthma so as to better individualize therapeutic options and improve asthma control and lung function in patients with difficult-to-treat asthma.