Effect of daily tiotropium on allergen-induced early asthmatic responses and airway inflammation

Abstract

Long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMAs) have been approved as an add-on treatment for moderate-to-severe asthma—tiotropium as an individual inhaler and umeclidinium as a combination inhaler. Data from ovalbumin-sensitized and challenged animals treated with muscarinic antagonists, including tiotropium, reveal reductions in inflammatory markers and allergen-associated changes.1,2 Inhaled muscarinic antagonists may, therefore, protect the airways of patients with allergic asthma through both bronchodilators (ie, decrease the early asthmatic response [EAR]) and anti-inflammatory action (ie, decrease type 2 [T2] eosinophilic airway inflammation).