Bronchial Thermoplasty for Severe Asthma With Dynamic Hyperinflation

Bronchial thermoplasty is a recently validated bronchoscopic technique for the management of severe asthma that treats smooth muscle by radiofrequency to reduce its thickness. This procedure leads to improved asthma control and quality of life, but also to decreased exacerbations frequency and number of emergencies hospitalizations. This treatment requires 3 procedures every 3 to 4 weeks.

The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying its effectiveness need to be better understood for an improved selection of best candidates. In particular, there is a discrepancy between the improvement observed in symptoms (ACQ), quality of life (AQLQ) and the lack of improvement in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1). Investigator assume that this paradox is due to an efficiency appearing at effort, targeting dynamic hyperinflation phenomenon.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the influence of bronchial thermoplasty on dynamic hyperinflation in severe asthma. The secondary objectives are to assess the effectiveness of bronchial thermoplasty (ACQ, AQLQ) in a selected population of patients with dynamic hyperinflation and to describe bronchial wall structural changes by probe-based confocal LASER endomicroscopy (pCLE).

Inclusion criteria

• Severe asthma, uncontrolled despite optimal treatment according to GINA (global initiative for asthma) recommendations
• At least 2 exacerbations treated by systemic steroids in the last year
• FEV1 between 40 and 80% of predicted values and dynamic hyperinflation (defined as a decrease in inspiratory capacity by more than 500 ml during exercise)

Exclusion criteria

• Current asthma exacerbation or respiratory infection
• History of exacerbation after bronchoscopy
• FEV1 < 40% of predicted values
• Oxygen saturation < 90%
• Contra-indications to ALAIR catheter system : pacemaker or other electronic implanted device
• Allergy to Remifentanyl or Propofol
• pregnancy; breastfeeding