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The BETTER-B study, recently presented at ERS and published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, provided new insights into the management of severe breathlessness in patients with chronic respiratory diseases such as COPD and Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD).  Severe breathlessness is a debilitating symptom that significantly impacts the quality of life for millions of people worldwide, yet there are currently no licensed medications to effectively address it outside of Australia. Given the clinical challenges and limited treatment options, clinicians often resort to off-label use of medications like mirtazapine, a widely prescribed antidepressant that appeared promising. Despite its initial promise, the study found that doses ranging from 15 to 45 mg of mirtazapine failed to provide significant relief compared to a placebo. Additionally, the findings highlighted potential adverse effects and increased healthcare costs associated with its use. 

Welcome to the latest edition of touchREVIEWS in Respiratory & Pulmonary Diseases. As we continually strive to deliver cutting-edge research and insightful commentary, this issue is no exception, featuring a diverse array of articles that illuminate both emerging treatments and evolving practices within the field of respiratory and pulmonary medicine. We begin with a compelling […]

Approximately half of all smokers will develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with a disease progression over several years before the spirometric threshold for diagnosis is reached.1 There is, therefore, a clear benefit in identifying patients with COPD as early as possible. Early detection, diagnosis and maintenance treatment of COPD, along with smoking cessation and exercise, may help to […]

Pentraxin-2 is a member of the pentraxin family of proteins, which includes C-reactive protein (CRP), pentraxin-2 and pentraxin-3.1–3 When initially discovered and characterized, pentraxin-2 was known as serum amyloid P (SAP) due to its isolation from amyloid deposits in humans; subsequently, SAP was found to be in the sera from circulating blood and, hence, its designation as […]

Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) are a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by inflammation and/or fibrosis.1 Pulmonary fibrosis develops due to repeated cycles of injury and impaired repair with fibroblast activation and migration with the resultant deposition of extracellular matrix components.2,3 This injury may be mediated by environmental, infectious or immune-mediated pathways. Over time, these pathways can become […]

Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) are the dominant cause of the worsening and high mortality of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and are associated with higher healthcare costs as part of COPD management. AECOPD is characterized by worsening respiratory symptoms, quality of life, respiratory function and gas exchange.1 It represents a challenge in […]

7th Forum on Respiratory Tract Infections Forum which takes place from 3rd-5th February 2025 in Glasgow. Covering topics including pneumonia, COVID-19, respiratory viruses, chronic lung infections, mycobacterial and fungal diseases the Respiratory Tract Infections Forum promises to be an exciting and stimulating environment for learning and the development of new collaborations.