Airway Inflammation and Remodeling in Asthma and COPD.

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are inflammatory airway diseases. Although the clinical features of asthma and COPD may be similar, the pathogenesis of these diseases differs in many aspects. The aim of this study is: to evaluate airway inflammation in asthma and COPD, to evaluate airway remodeling in asthma and COPD as compared to healthy subjects, to assess the relationship between markers of airway inflammation and airway remodeling in asthma and COPD patients. Material and methods: mild to moderate asthma patients diagnosed in accordance with Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines, mild to moderate COPD patients diagnosed in accordance with Global initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines, healthy subjects as controls. Airway inflammation is assessed in induced sputum (IS), exhaled breath condensate (EBC), bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and specimens from endobronchial forceps biopsy. Airway wall thickness is evaluated in high resolution computed tomography (HRCT), endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) and basement membrane thickness (BMT) in biopsy specimens. We plan to compare airway inflammation and features of airway remodeling in asthma and COPD patients.

Official Title
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Relationship Between Airway Inflammation and Remodeling in Asthma and COPD Patients.

Conditions
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Asthma, COPD

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: a clinical diagnosis of asthma or COPD in accordance with GINA or GOLD, respectively control group - healthy volunteers without any history of lung disease Exclusion Criteria: age below 18 years exacerbation in the past 6 weeks inhaled corticosteroid therapy at least 6 weeks prior to study enrollment significant co-morbidities

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 90 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Asthma<br>Patients with mild to moderate asthma diagnosed in accordance with GINA | |
| COPD<br>Patients with mild to moderate COPD diagnosed in accordance with GOLD | |
| Control<br>Healthy subjects | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Inflammatory markers | Inflammatory markers in exhaled breath condensate and induced sputum in healthy subjects, COPD and asthma patients. | Approximately 1-2 months after completion of study procedures (bronchoscopy, induced sputum, etc.) in all patients (probably January 2015) | 
| Airway wall thickness | Airway wall thickness in healthy subject, COPD and asthma patients assessed by HRCT and EBUS | Approximately 1-2 months after completion of study procedures (bronchoscopy with EBUS, HRCT) in all patients (probably January 2015) | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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remodeling, asthma, airway inflammation, cytokines, airway wall thickness, COPD