TH2 specific biomarker profile determines steroid responsiveness in severe asthma

Biomarkers able to determine responsiveness to therapy in severe asthma (SA) are needed. Our goal was to examine the usefulness of periostin, eosinophils and exhaled NO as potential T H 2 specific markers of glucocorticoid responsiveness in SA. Following a 4 week treatment optimization period, patients with SA (n=85) and mild-to-moderate asthma (MA) (n=66) underwent a 2 wk double-blind placebo controlled oral prednisolone (0.5 mg/kg BW daily) intervention (OPI). Serum periostin levels were measured by ELISA using 2 rat anti-human periostin mAbs (clones SS18A & SS17B), (Okamoto et al. ERJ 2011;37:1119). The OPI improved lung function in SA (FEV 1 : 2.28±0.13 L post vs 2.04±0.12 L pre, p Our findings confirm associations between serum periostin levels, eosinophilic inflammation and responsiveness to corticosteroid treatment. Furthermore, we demonstrate that levels of serum periostin are sensitive to oral steroid treatment.