Thermoplasty Bronchial - New method for treating asthma

According to the researchers, a new technique that uses radio waves to burn overgrowth muscles in the airways of asthmatic patients can help them breathe more easily, reduce symptoms and use fewer drugs. .

Narrow airway in asthma (Photo: Diseases-explained.com)

This technique is called a thermoplasty bronchial and is currently being tested on a large scale and may be licensed by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). .

Dr John D. Miller, associate professor of surgery at McMaster University in Canada and a co-technical researcher, said: 'This is the first test to show a significant response. It's also the first recently developed treatment for asthma-free asthma. ' This report was published on March 29 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

In a thermoplasty method, the doctor will stream radio transmitting wires into the patient's lungs. This radio wave will radiate heat to burn some smooth muscles in the airway.

Professor Miller explained the following: The basic idea of ​​this method is that 'smooth muscles surround the airway and when contracting it will make the airway narrower. If the amount of smooth muscle is reduced and when the spasm is stimulated, there is nothing to shrink. '

The trial included 112 people with moderate and severe asthma. Half of these people underwent 3 cycles of thermal orthopedic therapy; the rest are only treated with drugs as usual.

One year later, the air flow in patients treated with thermal orthopedic was 39 liters per minute while the air flow in the drug-treated patients was 8.5 liters per minute.

The group treated with thermoregulation also reported that they had an average of 40 days without symptoms, and the other group had 17 days with fewer symptoms and less medication.

Dr. John Miller (left) and Professor Gerard Cox.
(Photo: Sciencedaily)

Professor Millier said: 'We will now conduct a second test based on the information gathered from the first trial. This test is similar, but the only difference is that we will conduct a false procedure on the control group ".

Dr. Elliot Israel, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and one of the members of the research team, said: 'Registration for 350 asthma patients who participated in this new trial is complete. These patients will participate in different stages of treatment and some are in the second or third stage of treatment. ' They will be monitored for two years to evaluate treatment results.

Dr Irasel said: "In addition to creating more air space for the lungs, this therapy can also have other beneficial effects." "Living muscle cells often secrete chemicals and produce biological signals that add to inflammation," he said. This therapy can also alter some of the function of connective tissue in the airway. '

Charles G. Irvin, director of the Vermont Center for Lung Disease and University of Vermont and co-author of the article accompanying this therapy, said: One of the key points of this approach is that it becomes Again focusing on the role of muscle tissue in asthma, which is more or less unnoticed for many years. People focus more on immunology and inflammation than the muscles of the airway.

Mr. Irvin said that it is possible that thermal orthopedic is not the best method to affect muscle tissue. 'This method is not a small affair. The patient must go to three treatments and each bronchoscopy has its risks. ' This article also recommends other methods such as using drugs to paralyze muscles or use muscle removal chemicals in the airway.

Mr. Irvin said: 'But the most important thing is that this procedure works. That is interesting. It makes us rethink traditional treatments. Considering the same method of thermal orthopedic therapy can be particularly useful for patients with severe asthma that may require emergency hospitalization. "

Professor Miller said: 'Maybe we need to study this approach in a less invasive way.'

Hong Linh