Un asma sine asma: la SIRT

The paper describes the case of a girl with recurrent cough attributable to the so-called Cough Hypersensitivity Syndrome (CHS). The cough was misdiagnosed as drug resistant asthma for long time. CHS should be considered in all cases where recurrent, spasmodic cough, more than wheezing, predominates in the clinical picture.

Novel approach to chronic cough

Cough is the most common symptom for which people seek medical advice. A multitude of reasons can cause it. In clinical practice, a new term “Cough hypersensitivity syndrome“ was proposed, which defines unaccountable reasons forcough and different groups of patients with chronic cough. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) as a driver of chronic cough is the most important target in nowadays clinical trials. Extracellular ATP activates P2X purinoreceptor 3 (P2X3) receptor channels, which are expressed in sensory neurons. New treatment methods that block P2X3 receptors are being developed.

Cough Hypersensitivity Syndrome – A Major Advance in the Understanding of Chronic Cough

Cough is a common complaint that often necessitates a visit to a primary care provider,1 but tpically resolves spontaneously within a few weeks. Chronic cough, which is a cough that has lasted for more than 8 weeks, is a more difficult condition to manage and satisfactory control is not achieved in a substantial number of patients.2 It has been suggested that many cases of chronic cough may share a common mechanism: that of a hypersensitive cough response.3 This has led to the definition of a new disease entity: cough hypersensitivity syndrome (CHS).4–6 In an expert interview, Professor Kian Fan Chung of the National Heart & Lung Institute, Imperial College and the Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Trust, London, UK, discusses CHS and the recent advances in our understanding of this condition that is leading to the development of novel treatment approaches.