Using FeNO to Optimally Manage Asthma: The OPTIMAN study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Optimising the management of Asthma using FeNO to direct the use of inhaled steroids: The OPTIMAN study. A real life implementation of biomarker (FeNO) based diagnosis and management of asthma in Primary Care
IRAS ID
236424
Contact name
Richard EK Russell
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Oxford University
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN17718575
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
REC reference, 19-LO-0221
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 30 days
Research summary
Using FeNO to Optimally Manage Asthma: The OPTIMAN study
Asthma is a common lung condition that can cause coughing and wheezing. Asthma can be controlled well in most people. Occasionally, asthma symptoms can get gradually or suddenly worse. These "asthma attacks" can be serious.
For most people, treatment involves the daily - use of medications (inhaled corticosteroids, ICS), taken using an inhaler.
In spite of effective treatments disease control has not improved over 10 years. We need a better way of looking at and treating the inflammation in asthma.
What is FENO?
Patients with asthma often have an increase in a cell in their lungs, called the eosinophil. This is associated with asthma attacks, but a good response to ICS. There is a new measure that detects these cells: Nitric Oxide (FeNO). This is a simple, quick test which predicts asthma severity, risk of attack and a good response to ICS treatment. Devices are now available to measure FeNO.
By using FeNO, ICS can be given to the responsive patients, for maximum benefit.
Study Aims
We will test: if the management of asthma using FeNO is practicable, safe and effective: in patients with new asthma ,and also those with established asthma and who are taking high doses of ICS. FeNO will enable the right level of ICS to be used in the right people.
We will work in 6 general practices. In four (intervention practices) FeNO will be used to direct ICS use. In the two other practices we will allow the practitioners to continue with standard care.
We will collect information on asthma control, before and after the use of FeNO to develop evidence into the usefulness of FeNO and how it will be best used in real life.REC name
London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/LO/0221
Date of REC Opinion
19 Feb 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion