Bronchial thermoplasty for severe asthma: potential mechanisms and response markers

Abstract

Severe asthma (SA) poses a significant challenge to management and treatment, leading to a reduced quality of life and a heavy burden on society and healthcare resources. Bronchial thermoplasty (BT) has emerged as a non-pharmacological intervention for SA, demonstrating its efficacy and safety in improving patients’ quality of life and reducing exacerbation rates for over a decade. In particular, BT encounters various obstacles in its clinical application. Since asthma is characterized by high heterogeneity, not all patients derive effective outcomes from BT. Furthermore, current knowledge of markers that indicate response to BT remains limited. Recent research has shed light on the intricate mechanism of action of BT, which extends beyond simple smooth muscle ablation. Therefore, to enhance the clinical practice and implementation of BT, this paper aims to elucidate the mechanism of action and identify potential markers associated with BT response.