Study shows test can identify who to target with inhaled corticosteroid + Spiriva HandiHaler (tiotropium bromide) + LABA in COPD- Boehringer

Boehringer announced a new publication showing that levels of white blood cells called eosinophils can help identify patients with COPD who may and may not benefit from the addition of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) treatment on top of Spiriva HandiHaler (tiotropium bromide) and a LABA. For 80 percent of patients in the WISDOM study, the use of ICS on top of Spiriva HandiHaler (tiotropium bromide) and a LABA had no additional benefit in reducing the risk of exacerbations or 'flare-ups,' compared to Spiriva HandiHaler and a LABA without ICS.

The post-hoc analysis shows that these patients can be easily identified by measuring the level of eosinophils in their blood. Patients with levels lower than 4 percent (300 cells/µL) were associated with a lack of response to ICS. The WISDOM post-hoc analysis demonstrates that using the simple and commonly performed eosinophil blood count may provide a practical tool to help healthcare providers identify the small subset of patients who may benefit from the addition of ICS to Spiriva HandiHaler + LABA therapy. This post-hoc analysis is published online in the journal Lancet Respiratory Medicine.