TY - JOUR T1 - Airway inflammation in asthma: current and future targets and therapies JF - Breathe JO - breathe SP - 245 LP - 252 DO - 10.1183/18106838.0603.245 VL - 6 IS - 3 AU - N. Hanania Y1 - 2010/03/01 UR - http://breathe.ersjournals.com/content/6/3/245.abstract N2 - Educational aims To provide an overview of airway inflammation in asthma. To review current management guidelines' recommendations for the use of anti-inflammatory therapies in asthma. To discuss current treatment options for airway inflammation in asthma. To outline unmet needs for treating airway inflammation in asthma. To describe novel targets for treating airway inflammation in asthma based on current knowledge. Summary Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that requires long-term anti-inflammatory therapy. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are recommended for first-line treatment of persistent disease, but not all patients achieve asthma control even when these agents are used in high doses and in combination with other medications, such as a long-acting β2-agonist (LABA) or a leukotriene modifier. Such patients may require additional therapy. As information about asthma pathophysiology and inflammatory phenotypes continues to accumulate, and additional anti-inflammatory options become available, it may be possible to target anti-inflammatory therapy to various aspects of the disease and consequently to improve treatment of patients who respond inadequately to standard ICS-based therapy. Several novel anti-inflammatory therapies are at different stages of clinical development. This article will provide an overview of current and future approaches targeting airway inflammation in asthma. ER -