Blood eosinophils do not predict inhaled budesonide response in bronchiectasis

We would like to thank B. Lipworth and co-workers for their feedback on our study, which showed that 6-month treatment with inhaled fluticasone proprionate (FP) significantly improved quality of life in bronchiectasis patients with neither asthma nor COPD, and with blood eosinophil counts either ≥3% or≥150 cells·μL–1 [1, 2]. We agree with B. Lipworth and co-workers on the higher dose-dependent suppression of blood eosinophils due to the systemic absorption of FP. We re-analysed previously published data on bronchiectasis patients treated with budesonide, which has less systemic potency than FP [3].
Source: European Respiratory Journal - Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Tags: Original Articles: Correspondence Source Type: research