Should Non-eosinophilic Asthmatic Subjects be Treated With Inhaled Corticosteroids?
Should Non-eosinophilic Asthmatic Subjects be Treated With Inhaled Corticosteroids?
The efficacy of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in asthmatic subjects showing no sputum
 eosinophils is controversial. The broad aim of this study is to assess whether ICS alone or
 in combination with long-acting beta-2 agonists are an effective treatment in
 non-eosinophilic asthmatic subjects. Methods: The investigators will perform a randomized
 double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study comparing the efficacy of ICS and placebo
 for 4 weeks followed by a 4-week open treatment period with ICS/salmeterol in steroid-naïve
 asthmatic subjects without sputum eosinophilia. The primary outcome will be the the Asthma
 Control Questionnaire (ACQ) score after four weeks of treatment by ICS or placebo.

 This study will determine whether or not non-eosinophilic asthmatic subjects respond to ICS
 and if they further benefit from the addition of a long-acting beta-2 agonists. This study
 will also determine whether or not the assessment of airway inflammation should be performed
 in every asthmatic patient in order to give the most appropriate treatment.
General objective: To assess whether inhaled corticosteroids alone or in combination with
 long-acting beta-2 agonists are an effective treatment in non-eosinophilic asthmatic
 subjects.

 Specific objective 1. To compare the change in clinical and functional outcomes after
 treatment with fluticasone or placebo in non-eosinophilic asthmatic subjects.

 Specific objective 2. To assess whether the combination of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and
 with long-acting beta-2 agonists provides an improvement of asthma control compared to the
 treatment with ICS or placebo in non-eosinophilic asthmatics.

 Hypothesis: Treatment with ICS induces a significant clinical and physiologic improvement of
 non-eosinophilic asthmatic subjects. ICS/Salmeterol also provides a clinical and physiologic
 benefit compared to placebo.

 Primary end point: Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) score after 4 weeks of treatment with
 ICS or placebo.

 The Asthma Control Questionnaire has been chosen as a primary outcome since it is the most
 relevant clinical measure to assess asthma control over a short period of time. In patients
 whose asthma is stable between clinic visits, reliability of the ACQ is high (intraclass
 correlation coefficient (ICC)=0.90). Furthermore, the questionnaire is also very responsive
 to changes in asthma control(7). Therefore, this is the ideal tool to assess and compare the
 changes in asthma control over a short period of time. This instrument has the advantage of
 including both asthma symptoms as well as forced expiratory flow in one second (FEV1). A
 change of ACQ of 0.5 has been shown to be clinically significant. Therefore, we will be able
 to assess whether or not a treatment with ICS has the ability to significantly improve asthma
 control in non-eosinophilic asthmatic subjects. The questionnaire is provided in appendix
 III. Other functional and clinical outcomes such as quality of life, FEV1, provocative
 concentration of methacholine inducing a 20% fall in FEV1 (PC20), number of rescue medication
 and number of asthma exacerbations will also be assessed as secondary outcomes.

 The study has two steps: The first step will be a randomized double-blind,
 placebo-controlled, multicenter study comparing the efficacy of ICS and placebo for 4 weeks
 in asthmatic subjects without sputum eosinophilia followed by an open ICS/salmeterol 4-week
 treatment for all subjects. (See study design in appendix III).

 Inclusion criteria One hundred subjects will be enrolled.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Are between 18 and 70 years of age at the time of signing the informed consent.

 -  Have a diagnosis of asthma according to the Guidelines for the Diagnosis and
 Management of Asthma and have not been treated with ICS in the previous two months.

 -  Have a PC20 methacholine less than 8 mg/ml.

 -  Have a baseline FEV1 greater or equal to 65% of predicted value (at least 6 hours
 after bronchodilator).

 -  Are not optimally controlled with short-acting 2 agonists as shown by awakenings due
 to asthmatic symptoms at least once a week, or regular use of salbutamol on 4 or more
 occasions per week (excluding exercise prophylaxis) due to asthma symptoms.

 -  ACQ score equal or greater than 2

 -  Have sputum eosinophils less than 2%

 -  Are non smokers or ex-smokers who smoked a maximum of 10 pack/year.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Hospitalized patients within the last 3 months

 -  Current or recent (within the last month) symptoms of a cold or flu

 -  Patients with a history of near fatal asthma

 -  Subjects on inhaled corticosteroids, prednisone, long-acting beta 2 agonists,
 montelukast or theophylline, within 2 months prior to entry into the study.