Perth Patients for Global Asthma Trial

by Trent Pattison

May 10, 2006

The trial of a revolutionary asthma procedure known as Bronchial Thermoplasty is about to get under way at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. This is the first medical procedure to be tested for its healing ability in asthma patients.In years gone by sufferers have relied solely on medication which has its limitations.

Sir Charles Gairdner is one of 35 medical centres globally who are taking part in the clinical trial. The Silicon Valley based technology has been in development for the past decade but trials involving humans have only been conducted for the last three years.

Dr Martin Phillips, a Respiratory Medicine Consultant at the hospital says that the introduction of an asthma procedure is groundbreaking and is confident that previous positive results will again be evident after the 12 month trial. “In previous studies we have seen a drop in the levels of medication needed by the participants and their overall quality of life has improved,” he said.

The procedure is a variation of the common Bronchoscopy which involves a camera being fed into the patient’s lung. The new technology is in the form of a probe with an extendable wire basket which delivers controlled thermal energy and is aimed at shrinking the amount of ‘airway smooth muscle’. This muscle is sometimes twice as thick in asthma patients and leads to many of the symptoms of the affliction.

Early trials have had promising signs with people involved in the trials on much lower levels of asthma medication two years after their treatment. Participants in the trial will undergo the procedure three times over the course of a 12 month study and will be constantly monitored for improvement in their condition. “How long it is effective for we really don’t know,” said Dr Phillips.

For every two patients to receive the treatment one will be given a sham procedure to determine exactly how effective the new technology is. “We need to prove that it’s effective and also that it is safe,” said Dr Phillips.

Only a local anaesthetic is required during the Bronchial Thermoplasty and apart from a slight cough for a few days no real side effects or symptoms have shown up in earlier test cases.