该研究为期8周，共有14位哮喘患者接受infliximab（抗炎单克隆抗体）治疗，同时有18位哮喘患者接受安慰剂治疗作为对照。试验中，所有的患者均继续使用吸入型皮质激素治疗哮喘。
研究发现，接受infliximab治疗的患者与接受安慰剂治疗的患者相比，哮喘恶化的次数显著减少。而且，没有发现与Infliximab治疗有关的不良副作用，说明Infliximab在提高疗效的同时具备相当的安全性。
组织细胞和炎症细胞释放肿瘤坏死因子α（TNF-alpha是哮喘发作的始动因素之一，而Infliximab可以结合并屏蔽）TNF-alpha。
伦敦皇家布朗普敦医院国家心肺研究所的Trevor T. Hansel博士认为，如果infliximab确实减少哮喘恶化，并具有良好耐受性，那么就应该开展大规模抗TNF-alpha药物治疗哮喘的临床试验。
该研究发表在《美国呼吸道与危重症监护医学杂志》10月刊。
Infliximab Helps Curb Worsening Asthma
U.K. trial found the drug reduced disease symptoms in mild cases
HealthDay
By Robert Preidt
Monday, October 2, 2006
MONDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- The drug infliximab significantly reduced disease exacerbations in people with moderate asthma, new U.K. research finds.
The eight-week study included 14 patients who received infliximab -- an anti-inflammatory monoclonal antibody -- and 18 patients who received a placebo. During the trial, all the patients continued to use inhaled corticosteroids for their asthma.
Patients who received infliximab experienced significantly fewer asthma exacerbations than those who took the placebo, the study found. There were no adverse side effects associated with infliximab treatment.
Infliximab binds and neutralizes tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), an intracellular messenger protein (cytokine) associated with inflammation. Both structured and inflammatory cells in asthmatics can release TNF-alpha, the researchers noted.
"Given that infliximab therapy was well-tolerated and appeared to reduce the incidence of asthma exacerbations, anti TNF-alpha therapy merits further study in larger clinical trials in patients with severe asthma," researcher Dr. Trevor T. Hansel of the National Heart and Lung Institute at Royal Brompton Hospital in London, said in a prepared statement.
The study was published in the October issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
编辑：蓝色幻想
