January 8, 2013

asthma in children: new research into tailored treatments

Asthma is a common chronic illness affecting more than a million children and young people in the UK. Current treatment approaches involve step-up/step-down therapy using different medications depending on the severity and persistence of symptoms. However, this is prone to adverse effects such as exacerbations, as therapies are not tailored closely to the individual.

In 2009, scientists from the Universities of Brighton, Sussex and Dundee came to the SMC to discuss their research suggesting a particular genotype is associated with exacerbations in asthmatic children exposed daily to the popularly prescribed medications salbutamol and salmeterol.

They have now undertaken a study to test their findings directly in the community, and in particular have investigated the effects of alternative medication to salmeterol in children expressing the susceptible genotype. The lead author of the study came back to the SMC to discuss these latest findings and what they mean for the future of asthma treatment in children.

Speakers:

Professor Somnath Mukhopadhyay, Chair in Paediatrics, Brighton and Sussex Medical School (a partnership between the Universities of Brighton and Sussex with the NHS)