Browsing by Author "Bateman, Eric D."

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    Indications for the use of bronchial thermoplasty in severe asthma
    (Health & Medical Publishing Group, 2015) Dheda, Keertan; Koegelenberg, Coenraad F. N.; Esmail, Aliasgar; Irusen, Elvis; Wechsler, Michael; Niven, Rob M.; Chung, Kian Fan; Bateman, Eric D.
    Approximately 5% of the ~3 million asthmatics in South Africa have severe asthma that is associated with substantial morbidity, cost, absenteeism, preventable mortality, and the requirement for costly chronic medication that may be associated with significant adverse events. There is an unmet need for alternative safer and more effective interventions for severe asthma. A recently introduced option, bronchial thermoplasty (BT), imparts radiofrequency-generated heat energy to the airways to cause regression of airway smooth muscle. The effectiveness of this technique has been confirmed in randomised control trials and is now endorsed by several international guidelines, including the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guideline, the British Asthma Guideline, and the UK National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) guideline. We recommend BT as a potential therapeutic intervention for severe uncontrolled asthma, provided that it is performed by an experienced pulmonologist at an accredited centre and done within the broader context of appropriate management of the disease by doctors experienced in treating difficult-to-control asthma.
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    Obstructive pulmonary disease in patients with previous tuberculosis : pathophysiology of a community-based cohort
    (Health & Medical Publishing Group, 2017) Allwood, Brian W.; Gillespie, Rencia; Galperin-Aizenberg, Maya; Bateman, Mary; Olckers, Helena; Taborda-Barata, Luis; Calligaro, Gregory L.; Said-Hartley, Qonita; Van Zyl-Smit, Richard; Cooper, Christopher B.; Van Rikxoort, Eva; Goldin, Jonathan; Beyers, Nulda; Bateman, Eric D.
    Background. An association between chronic airflow limitation (CAL) and a history of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) has been confirmed in epidemiological studies, but the mechanisms responsible for this association are unclear. It is debated whether CAL in this context should be viewed as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or a separate phenotype. Objective. To compare lung physiology and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings in subjects with CAL and evidence of previous (healed) PTB with those in subjects with smoking-related COPD without evidence of previous PTB. Methods. Subjects with CAL identified during a Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study performed in South Africa were studied. Investigations included questionnaires, lung physiology (spirometry, body plethysmography and diffusing capacity) and quantitative HRCT scans to assess bronchial anatomy and the presence of emphysema (<–950 HU), gas trapping (<–860 HU) and fibrosis (>–200 HU). Findings in subjects with a past history and/or HRCT evidence of PTB were compared with those in subjects without these features. Results. One hundred and seven of 196 eligible subjects (54.6%) were enrolled, 104 performed physiology tests and 94 had an HRCT scan. Based on history and HRCT findings, subjects were categorised as no previous PTB (NPTB, n=31), probable previous PTB (n=33) or definite previous PTB (DPTB, n=39). Subjects with DPTB had a lower diffusing capacity (Δ=–17.7%; p=0.001) and inspiratory capacity (Δ=–21.5%; p=0.001) than NPTB subjects, and higher gas-trapping and fibrosis but not emphysema scores (Δ=+6.2% (p=0.021), +0.36% (p=0.017) and +3.5% (p=0.098), respectively). Conclusions. The mechanisms of CAL associated with previous PTB appear to differ from those in the more common smoking-related COPD and warrant further study.
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    Recommendations for the use of bronchial thermoplasty in the management of severe asthma
    (Health & Medical Publishing Group, 2015) Dheda, Keertan; Koegelenberg, Coenraad F. N.; Esmail, Aliasgar; Irusen, Elvis; Wechsler, Michael; Niven, Rob M.; Bateman, Eric D.; Chung, Kian Fan
    There are approximately 3 million asthma suffers in South Africa, and the national death rate is ranked as one of the highest in the world. Approximately 5% have severe asthma (uncontrolled despite being adherent on maximal and optimised therapy). Such uncontrolled asthma is associated with high healthcare expenditure and may require treatment with anti-IgE and/or systemic corticosteroids, in addition to inhaler therapy and oral agents. These treatments may be costly, and those such as oral corticosteroids may have potential serious adverse events. There is therefore a need for more effective, affordable and safe therapies for asthma. A new modality of treatment, bronchial thermoplasty (BT), has recently been developed and approved for the treatment of severe asthma. BT involves delivering radio frequency-generated thermal energy to the airways, with the goal of reducing airway-specific smooth-muscle mass. Several clinical studies have confirmed that BT is effective and safe, that it improves control and quality of life in patients whose asthma remains severe despite optimal medical therapy, and that the beneficial effects are sustained for at least 5 years. We provide recommendations for the management of severe asthma, with an emphasis on the role of BT, and endorse the use of BT in patients with severe persistent asthma who remain uncontrolled despite optimal medical therapy as outlined in steps 4 and 5 of the British Thoracic Society (BTS)/Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), UK National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) and Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines. We outline the context in which BT should be used, how it works and associated potential adverse events and contraindications, and also review unanswered questions and controversies.
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    Task shifting and integration of HIV care into primary care in South Africa : the development and content of the streamlining tasks and roles to expand treatment and care for HIV (STRETCH) intervention
    (BioMed Central, 2011-08-02) Uebel, Kerry E.; Fairall, Lara R.; van Rensburg, Dingie H. C. J.; Mollentze, Willie F.; Bachmann, Max O.; Lewin, Simon; Zwarenstein, Merrick; Colvin, Christopher J.; Georgeu, Daniella; Mayers, Pat; Faris, Gill M.; Lombard, Carl; Bateman, Eric D.
    Abstract Background Task shifting and the integration of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care into primary care services have been identified as possible strategies for improving access to antiretroviral treatment (ART). This paper describes the development and content of an intervention involving these two strategies, as part of the Streamlining Tasks and Roles to Expand Treatment and Care for HIV (STRETCH) pragmatic randomised controlled trial. Methods: Developing the intervention The intervention was developed following discussions with senior management, clinicians, and clinic staff. These discussions revealed that the establishment of separate antiretroviral treatment services for HIV had resulted in problems in accessing care due to the large number of patients at ART clinics. The intervention developed therefore combined the shifting from doctors to nurses of prescriptions of antiretrovirals (ARVs) for uncomplicated patients and the stepwise integration of HIV care into primary care services. Results: Components of the intervention The intervention consisted of regulatory changes, training, and guidelines to support nurse ART prescription, local management teams, an implementation toolkit, and a flexible, phased introduction. Nurse supervisors were equipped to train intervention clinic nurses in ART prescription using outreach education and an integrated primary care guideline. Management teams were set up and a STRETCH coordinator was appointed to oversee the implementation process. Discussion Three important processes were used in developing and implementing this intervention: active participation of clinic staff and local and provincial management, educational outreach to train nurses in intervention sites, and an external facilitator to support all stages of the intervention rollout. The STRETCH trial is registered with Current Control Trials ISRCTN46836853.
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    Transition from restrictive to obstructive lung function impairment during treatment and follow-up of active tuberculosis
    (Dove Medical Press, 2020) Allwood, Brian W.; Maasdorp, Elizna; Kim, Grace J.; Cooper, Christopher B.; Goldin, Jonathan; Van Zyl-Smit, Richard N.; Bateman, Eric D.; Dawson, Rodney
    Background: Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is associated with many forms of chronic lung disease including the development of chronic airflow obstruction (AFO). However, the nature, evolution and mechanisms responsible for the AFO after PTB are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to examine the progression of changes in lung physiology in patients treated for PTB. Methods: Immunocompetent, previously healthy, adult patients receiving ambulatory treatment for a first episode of tuberculosis were prospectively followed up with serial lung physiology and quantitative computed tomography (CT) lung scans performed at diagnosis of tuberculosis, 2, 6, 12 and 18 months during and after the completion of treatment. Results: Forty-nine patients (median age 26 years; 37.2% males) were included, and 43 were studied. During treatment, lung volumes improved and CT fibrosis scores decreased, but features of AFO and gas trapping emerged, while reduced diffusing capacity (DLco) seen in a majority of patients persisted. Significant increases in total lung capacity (TLC) by plethysmography were seen in the year following treatment completion (median change 5.9% pred., P< 0.01) and were driven by large increases in residual volume (RV) (median change +19%pred., P< 0.01) but not inspiratory capacity (IC; P=0.41). The change in RV/TLC correlated with significant progression of radiological gas trapping after treatment (P=0.04) but not with emphysema scores. One year after completing treatment, 18.6% of patients had residual restriction (total lung capacity, TLC < 80%pred), 16.3% had AFO, 32.6% had gas trapping (RV/TLC> 45%), and 78.6% had reduced DLco. Conclusion: Simple spirometry alone does not fully reveal the residual respiratory impairments resulting after a first episode of PTB. Changes in physiology evolve after treatment completion, and these findings when taken together, suggest emergence of gas trapping after treatment likely caused by progression of small airway pathology during the healing process.
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    Transition from restrictive to obstructive lung function impairment during treatment and follow-up of active tuberculosis
    (Dove Press, 2020-05) Allwood, Brian W.; Maasdorp, Elizna; Kim, Grace J.; Cooper, Christopher B.; Goldin, Jonathan; van Zyl-Smit, Richard N.; Bateman, Eric D.; Dawson, Rodney
    Background: Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is associated with many forms of chronic lung disease including the development of chronic airflow obstruction (AFO). However, the nature, evolution and mechanisms responsible for the AFO after PTB are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to examine the progression of changes in lung physiology in patients treated for PTB. Methods: Immunocompetent, previously healthy, adult patients receiving ambulatory treatment for a first episode of tuberculosis were prospectively followed up with serial lung physiology and quantitative computed tomography (CT) lung scans performed at diagnosis of tuberculosis, 2, 6, 12 and 18 months during and after the completion of treatment. Results: Forty-nine patients (median age 26 years; 37.2% males) were included, and 43 were studied. During treatment, lung volumes improved and CT fibrosis scores decreased, but features of AFO and gas trapping emerged, while reduced diffusing capacity (DLco) seen in a majority of patients persisted. Significant increases in total lung capacity (TLC) by plethysmography were seen in the year following treatment completion (median change 5.9% pred., P<0.01) and were driven by large increases in residual volume (RV) (median change +19%pred., P<0.01) but not inspiratory capacity (IC; P=0.41). The change in RV/TLC correlated with significant progression of radiological gas trapping after treatment (P=0.04) but not with emphysema scores. One year after completing treatment, 18.6% of patients had residual restriction (total lung capacity, TLC <80%pred), 16.3% had AFO, 32.6% had gas trapping (RV/TLC>45%), and 78.6% had reduced DLco. Conclusion: Simple spirometry alone does not fully reveal the residual respiratory impairments resulting after a first episode of PTB. Changes in physiology evolve after treatment completion, and these findings when taken together, suggest emergence of gas trapping after treatment likely caused by progression of small airway pathology during the healing process. Keywords: airflow obstruction; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; computed tomography; lung function; post-tuberculosis; tuberculosis.