Could Antifungal Therapy Improve Asthma Symptoms?

Antifungal therapy can improve symptoms of asthma and chronic sinusitis, according to a new study.

Because previous research about the effectiveness of antifungal therapy in asthma and chronic sinusitis was conflicting, researchers decided to conduct their own study using a more accurate fungal culture test and a more aggressive treatment plan.
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For their study, researchers retrospectively collected data from 134 patients with asthma, chronic sinusitis, or both who had visited the Michael E. Debakey VA allergy clinic from 2012 to 2015 and had provided a sputum sample for fungal culture.

Of the 112 patients who had positive fungal cultures, 75 were treated with voriconazole, terbinafine, fluconazole, or a combination of medications.

After reviewing follow-up data, researchers found that 87% of patients had subjective benefit, 50% had produced less sputum, 39% had improved breathing, 32% had less cough, and 15% used their rescue inhaler less.

In addition, of the 55 patients who performed a scratch or radioallergosobent test, only 9 had fungal sensitization.

“This study suggests patients with asthma and chronic sinusitis may benefit from antifungal therapy regardless of fungal sensitization,” researchers concluded. “These findings support the need for additional randomized clinical trials to clarify the utility of antifungal agents in asthma.”

—Amanda Balbi

Reference:

Li E, Maskatia R, Porter P, Corry DB. A Retrospective Study of the effect of antifungal therapy on a cohort with asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2016;137(2):AB214. Suppl. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2015.12.1288.