Welcome to the latest edition of European Respiratory & Pulmonary Diseases, which features a diverse range of articles covering a number of therapeutic areas. This edition begins with a discussion of a relatively new and controversial positive airway pressure (PAP) unit. Adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV) is a non-invasive ventilatory PAP therapy for the treatment of adults with both obstructive and central sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). A recent clinical trial found that ASV significantly reduced SDB events in patients with systolic heart failure and predominant central sleep apnoea, but did not improve outcomes, and was associated with increased mortality, leaving experts unsure whether or not to reject its use. D’Ortho et al put these data into perspective and suggest that ASV may be useful in several other indications and patient groups.
In two editorials, respiratory tract disorders are discussed. Midulla and Nessa present the need for a unique clinical definition of bronchiolitis, the most common lower respiratory tract disorder in infants. In addition, de Benedictis and Attanasi outline future directions in asthma research, highlighting the need for new biologic markers and new approaches towards personalised medicine.
The management of rare pulmonary neoplasms presents challenges in terms of diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. Bickel et al present a case report of pleuropulmonary blastoma (PBB) originating from an extralobar sequestration in an infant, and also review current literature regarding PPBs and the controversy around resection of cystic lung lesions in infants and children.
Sarcoidosis, although often originating in the lungs, is a systemic disease that involves multiple organs, including the liver. Tetikkurt et al presents a retrospective study evaluating the clinical features and prognostic significance of liver sarcoidosis, which is associated with a worse prognosis than sarcoidosis without liver involvement.
European Respiratory & Pulmonary Diseases would like to thank all expert authors who contributed towards this edition. In addition, a special thanks goes to our Editorial Board for their continuing support and guidance. We hope that you will find plenty of interest among these topical and thought-provoking articles.
