Infliximab Helps Curb Worsening Asthma

MONDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- The drug infliximab significantly reduced disease exacerbations in people with moderate asthma , new U.K. research finds.

The eight-week study included 14 patients who received infliximab -- an anti-inflammatory monoclonal antibody -- and 18 patients who received a placebo. During the trial, all the patients continued to use inhaled corticosteroids for their asthma.

Patients who received infliximab experienced significantly fewer asthma exacerbations than those who took the placebo, the study found. There were no adverse side effects associated with infliximab treatment.

Infliximab binds and neutralizes tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), an intracellular messenger protein (cytokine) associated with inflammation. Both structured and inflammatory cells in asthmatics can release TNF-alpha, the researchers noted.

"Given that infliximab therapy was well-tolerated and appeared to reduce the incidence of asthma exacerbations, anti TNF-alpha therapy merits further study in larger clinical trials in patients with severe asthma," researcher Dr. Trevor T. Hansel of the National Heart and Lung Institute at Royal Brompton Hospital in London, said in a prepared statement.

The study was published in the October issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

-- Robert Preidt