Affiliation:
1. Almere, Netherlands
2. Red Cross Hospital, Beverwijk, Netherlands
3. Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center (Erasmus MC), Dr. Molewaterplein 50, 3015 GE Rotterdam, Netherlands
Abstract
Background. The population of uncontrolled asthma patients represents a large therapeutic burden. The PDE3-inhibitor enoximone is a strong and quick bronchodilator and is known to successfully treat life-threatening bronchial asthma (status asthmaticus). Translational mice models showed anti-inflammatory effects when PDE3 was targeted. Methods. Here, we investigated the effectiveness of PDE3-inhibitor enoximone as oral treatment for chronic asthma in a real-life off-label setting. Investigational use of PDE3-inhibitor enoximone: 51 outpatients (age 18–77) with chronic asthma were followed using off-label personalized low doses of the PDE3-inhibitor enoximone. Duration of treatment was 2–8 years. Results. Four groups could be distinguished as follows: The first group includes patients who use enoximone as an add-on, because it helps them in maintaining a better general wellbeing; they still use their traditional medication (n = 5). The second group consists of patients who use enoximone and were able to phase down their traditional medication without deterioration of their asthma symptoms (n = 11). The third group comprises patients who were able to discontinue their traditional medication and use only enoximone without deterioration of their asthma symptoms (n = 24). The last one has patients who, after having used enoximone for some time, saw their symptoms disappear and now use no medication at all, not even enoximone (n = 11). All patients reported improvement or at least alleviation of their asthma symptoms. All patients reported a better quality of life and greater drug compliance. Conclusion. The evaluation shows that PDE3-inhibitor enoximone is a viable alternative for or addition to current asthma therapeutics, as both add-on and stand-alone, considerably reducing the use of LABAs/SABAs/ICS, with no or negligible side effects. Additional studies are advisable.
Subject
Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine