fluticasone and Bronchiolitis-Obliterans

Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is associated with high mortality. We hypothesized that inhaled fluticasone, azithromycin, and montelukast (FAM) with a brief steroid pulse could avert progression of new-onset BOS. We tested this in a phase II, single-arm, open-label, multicenter study (NCT01307462). Thirty-six patients were enrolled within 6 months of BOS diagnosis. The primary endpoint was treatment failure, defined as 10% or greater forced expiratory volume in 1 second decline at 3 months. At 3 months, 6% (2 of 36, 95% confidence interval, 1% to 19%) had treatment failure (versus 40% in historical controls, P < .001). FAM was well tolerated. Steroid dose was reduced by 50% or more at 3 months in 48% of patients who could be evaluated (n = 27). Patient-reported outcomes at 3 months were statistically significantly improved for Short-Form 36 social functioning score and mental component score, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapies emotional well-being, and Lee symptom scores in lung, skin, mouth, and the overall summary score compared to enrollment (n = 24). At 6 months, 36% had treatment failure (95% confidence interval, 21% to 54%, n = 13 of 36, with 6 documented failures, 7 missing pulmonary function tests). Overall survival was 97% (95% confidence interval, 84% to 100%) at 6 months. These data suggest that FAM was well tolerated and that treatment with FAM and steroid pulse may halt pulmonary decline in new-onset BOS in the majority of patients and permit reductions in systemic steroid exposure, which collectively may improve quality of life. However, additional treatments are needed for progressive BOS despite FAM.

Topics: Acetates; Adult; Aged; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Azithromycin; Bronchiolitis Obliterans; Cyclopropanes; Disease Progression; Fluticasone; Forced Expiratory Volume; Hematologic Neoplasms; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Humans; Lung; Male; Middle Aged; Quality of Life; Quinolines; Sulfides; Survival Analysis; Transplantation, Homologous; Treatment Outcome

Inhaled fluticasone propionate (FP) therapy decreases inflammation and sub-basement membrane thickness in asthmatic airways. Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) in lung transplant recipients (LTRs) involves progressive airway fibrosis and obliteration. Therefore, augmented immunosuppression may be of some benefit in treating BOS. In this study, we examined the effect of 3 months of treatment with high-dose inhaled FP on the concentrations of 2 fibrogenic factors, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta(1) and beta fibrogenic growth factor (bFGF) in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid from clinically stable LTRs.. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group study with inhaled FP (750 microg, twice/day for 3 months) in 28 LTRs (15 FP and 13 placebo). We recruited 23 healthy controls. We performed spirometry, bronchoscopy, and bronchoalveolar lavage procedures before treatment and after 3 months of treatment. We used commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits to measure BAL fluid TGF-beta(1) and bFGF concentrations.. In LTRs before treatment, BAL TGF-beta(1) concentrations (but not bFGF concentrations), total cell counts, and neutrophil percentage increased compared with controls (p < 0.05). We found no significant differences between FP and placebo groups at baseline measurements. After treatment, BAL TGF-beta(1) concentrations significantly increased in the FP group (p = 0.03), but we found no difference between FP and placebo groups; BAL bFGF concentrations increased during treatment in both groups compared with controls (p < 0.05), but not significantly within either patient group (p > 0.05). We found a reverse correlation between forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)) and BAL TGF-beta(1) concentration in the FP group (r = -0.53, p = 0.04), and between FEV(1) and BAL TGF-beta(1) concentration in the placebo group (r = -0.74, p = 0.004). Multivariable analysis indicated no significant independent effects of inhaled FP in either BAL TGF-beta(1) or bFGF concentrations.. Bronchoalveolar fluid TGF-beta(1) concentrations increased in LTRs after transplantation and may correlate with the decrease in lung function. Inhaled FP added to conventional immunosuppression had no effect on TGF-beta(1) or bFGF production in BAL fluid.

Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adult; Androstadienes; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Bronchiolitis Obliterans; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Double-Blind Method; Female; Fibroblast Growth Factors; Fluticasone; Humans; Immunosuppression Therapy; Lung; Lung Transplantation; Male; Middle Aged; Respiratory Function Tests; Transforming Growth Factor beta; Transforming Growth Factor beta1

It is postulated that bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) is preceded by airway inflammation that has been described even in stable lung transplant recipients. Airway inflammation is known to be suppressed by inhaled steroids in other chronic inflammatory lung diseases, e.g., asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. BOS is the major cause of morbidity and mortality after lung transplantation.. To examine the effect of inhaled corticosteroids on the development of BOS in lung transplant recipients.. Thirty patients were recruited and randomized in a double-blind fashion to receive either 750 microg of fluticasone propionate (FP) or an identical-appearing placebo twice daily for 3 months; 20 of this group continued until 2 years posttransplantation. Detailed spirometry was performed regularly throughout the study.. In the short-term study no differences were found in any examined parameters. In the long-term component of the study no differences were found in the development of neither BOS nor survival. There were minor differences in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) lymphocyte percentages.. FP is ineffective for the prevention of BOS after lung transplantation despite the airway inflammation that characterizes this condition. Inadequate local delivery, timing of the therapy relative to transplantation and inherent steroid resistance of this condition may explain the negative finding of this study.

Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adult; Androstadienes; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Bronchiolitis Obliterans; Bronchoalveolar Lavage; Bronchoscopy; Disease-Free Survival; Double-Blind Method; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Fluticasone; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Lung Transplantation; Male; Middle Aged; Postoperative Complications

Lung transplant bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) is the most significant long-term cause of morbidity and mortality after lung transplantation. Although augmented immunosuppression is used by most centers, reported on treatment to reverse BOS are largely anecdotal. We performed a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial (RCT) with ten treatment pairs of 2 weeks duration each comparing inhaled fluticasone propionate (2 x 1,000 micrograms/day) with placebo in a patient with BOS grade 2 who previously showed an improvement in lung function after inhaled steroids. The Baseline Dyspnea Index and the Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale showed a significant improvement during fluticasone treatment compared with the placebo period (2.7 +/- 0.2 vs. 2.0 +/- 0.3; p = 0.043; and 1.7 +/- 0.2 vs. 2.4 +/- 0.2; p = 0.043). The patient correctly identified fluticasone and placebo, respectively, in eight of ten trial pairs (p = 0.016). The values of forced expiratory volume in 1 s were significantly higher during the fluticasone period (1,207 +/- 10 ml; 95% confidence interval, CI, 1,187-1,227 ml) compared to the placebo period (1,150 +/- 6 ml; 95% CI 1,138-1,162 ml; p = 0.0012). In conclusion, this n-of-1 RCT suggests the efficacy of high-dose inhaled fluticasone in our patient with lung transplant BOS. We propose to conduct a multicenter RCT of high-dose inhaled steroids. Until further data are available, this treatment modality should be offered to patients with lung transplant BOS.

Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adult; Androstadienes; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Bronchiolitis Obliterans; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Double-Blind Method; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Fluticasone; Forced Expiratory Volume; Humans; Lung Transplantation; Respiratory Function Tests

The natural history of lung function in patients with bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant is poorly characterized. Understanding the trajectory of lung function is necessary for prompt clinical recognition and treatment and also for the rational design of prospective studies.. To describe the longitudinal trajectory of lung function parameters, including FEV. Subjects with BOS defined by National Institutes of Health consensus guidelines criteria from a recent multicenter prospective trial of combination treatment with fluticasone, azithromycin and montelukast and a retrospective cohort from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center were included. Longitudinal change in FEV. The FEV

Topics: Acetates; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Azithromycin; Bronchiolitis Obliterans; Cyclopropanes; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Fluticasone; Forced Expiratory Volume; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Humans; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Linear Models; Lung; Male; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Postoperative Complications; Prospective Studies; Quinolines; Retrospective Studies; Sulfides; Survival Rate; United States; Young Adult

Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) is a devastating pulmonary complication affecting long-term survivors of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. Treatment of BOS with prolonged courses of high dose corticosteroids is often associated with significant morbidity. Reducing the exposure to corticosteroids may reduce treatment-related morbidity. Our institution has recently begun to treat patients with emerging therapies in an effort to diminish corticosteroid exposure. We retrospectively reviewed the 6-month corticosteroid exposure, lung function and failure rates in eight patients with newly diagnosed BOS who were treated with a combination of fluticasone, azithromycin and montelukast (FAM) and a rapid corticosteroid taper. These patients were compared with 14 matched historical patients who received high-dose corticosteroids, followed by a standard taper. The median 6-month prednisone exposure in FAM-treated patients was 1819 mg (0-4036 mg) compared with 7163 mg (6551-7829 mg) in the control group (P=0.002). The median forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)) change in FAM-treated patients was 2% (-3 to 4%] compared with 1% (-4 to 5%) in the control group (P=1.0). Prednisone exposure in FAM patients was one quarter that of a retrospective-matched group of patients, with minimal change in median FEV(1), suggesting that BOS may be spared of the morbidities associated with long-term corticosteroid use by using alternative agents with less side effects.

Topics: Acetates; Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Adult; Androstadienes; Azithromycin; Bronchiolitis Obliterans; Cyclopropanes; Female; Fluticasone; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Male; Middle Aged; Quinolines; Retrospective Studies; Sulfides; Transplantation, Homologous; Young Adult

We conducted a single case (N-of-1) randomized trial in two patients. In the first case with bronchiolitis obliterans after lung transplantation a beneficial effect of inhaled steroids could be documented. The second patient suffered from symptoms compatible with HIV-associated M. Addison improving after cortisone, but the adrenocortical function was normal. Because the patient required the cortison treatment to be continued, we performed a n-of-1 trial which demonstrated the inefficacy of cortisone. This experience underscores the feasibility and usefulness of N-of-1 randomized clinical trials in medical practice.

Topics: Addison Disease; Administration, Inhalation; Adult; Androstadienes; Anti-Asthmatic Agents; Bronchiolitis Obliterans; Cortisone; Double-Blind Method; Female; Fluticasone; Graft Rejection; HIV Infections; Humans; Lung Transplantation; Male; Middle Aged; Postoperative Complications; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Treatment Outcome