Klin Farmakol Farm. 2014;28(1):31-36

Steroid resistant asthma: classification, definition and molecular mechanisms

Jan Potěšil¹, František Kopřiva¹, Marek Godava², Mariana Svetlíková¹

¹ Dětská klinika, LF UP a FN Olomouc

of the glucocorticoid resistance on the cell level

Asthma is one of the most frequent chronic inflammatory disease amongst czech population. Generally asthma is caused by insufficient

or inadequate regulation of systemic inflammatory activity manifested by chronic inflammatory changes in the airways of respiratory

system. Complex treatment strategy, management approach based on treatment steps, is used in the treatment, with application of

immunomodulatory drugs as a pharmacological base. Inhaled glucocorticoids are the drug of choice and concurrently the most often

aplicated immunomodulatory drug amongst asthmatics. Glucocorticoid resistance amongst asthmatics – steroid (glucocorticosteroid)

resistant asthma – is rather rarely. However, these steroid resistant asthmatics do not make a profit from the glucocorticoid therapy.

Additionally, they suffer from more frequent side effects caused by taking higher doses of glucocorticoids. Steroid resistant asthma is

exactly defined and classified. Classification of asthma, from which stepped management of complex treatment strategy is derived, is not

yet unified and is still in the incessant process. In the following review steroid resistant asthma will be defined and classified according to

actual czech national and international recommendations of asthma. Proven or expected molecular mechanisms of steroid resistant

asthma on the cell level will be shown.

Keywords: asthma, glucocorticoid, glucocorticoid resistance, steroid resistant asthma

Published: March 1, 2014  Show citation