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Research & Teaching

Bronchial thermoplasty: activations predict response

Abstract Background: Bronchial thermoplasty (BT) is an emerging bronchoscopic intervention for the treatment of severe asthma. The predictive factors for clinical response to BT are unknown. We examined the relationship between the number of radiofrequency activations applied and the treatment response observed.

Methods: Data were collected from 24 consecutive cases treated at three Australian centres from June 2014 to March 2016. The baseline characteristics were collated along with the activations delivered. The primary response measure was change in the Asthma Control Questionnaire-5 (ACQ-5) score measured at 6 months post BT. The relationship between change in outcome parameters and the number of activations delivered was explored.

Results: All patients met the ERS/ATS definition for severe asthma. At 6 months post treatment, mean ACQ-5 improved from 3.3 ± 1.1 to 1.5 ± 1.1, p < 0.001. The minimal clinically significant improvement in ACQ-5 of ?0.5 was observed in 21 out of 24 patients. The only significant variable that differed between the 21 responders and the three non-responders was the number of activations delivered, with 139 ± 11 activations in the non-responders, compared to 221 ± 45 activations in the responders (p < 0.01). A significant inverse correlation was found between change in ACQ-5 score and the number of activations, r = ?0.43 (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The number of activations delivered during BT has a role in determining clinical response to treatment.

Keywords: Severe asthma, Bronchial thermoplasty, Response predictors, Activations, Technique


David Langton
Joy Sha
Alvin Ing
David Fielding
Francis Thien
Virginia Plummer


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Bronchoscopic procedures for COPD
A breath of fresh air

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease affects about 15% of the Australian population aged over 40 years and 40% of those aged over 75 years. Treatment options for advanced disease are limited, but novel bronchoscopic procedures can offer physiological benefits in carefully selected patients.


JONATHAN P. WILLIAMSON MB BS, BSc(Hons), PhD, FRACP
TAJALLI SAGHAIE MD, FRACP
ALVIN J. ING MB BS(Hons), MD, FRACP


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