Table I.

Treatable pulmonary traits in asthma.

Treatable traits	Diagnosis	Treatments
Airflow restriction	FEV1/FVC< normal lower limit
Airway smooth muscle contraction	Bronchodilator reversibility, peak expi ratory flow variability, positive PC20	β2-agonists (short-acting and long-acting), muscarinic antagonists, bronchial thermoplasty
Airway mucosal oedema	Chest computed tomography, spirometry-induced bronchoconstriction	Inhaled corticosteroids. oral corticosteroids, anti-interleukin-5, −13, −4
Altered cough reflex sensitivity	Heightened capsaicin reflex sensitivity, Increased cough counts, cough questionnaire	Speech and language therapy, P2X3 antagonist, gabapentin, inhaled corticosteroids, oral corti costeroids, cessation of treatment with ACE inhibitors
Airway infection	Sputum culture, quantitative PCR	Antibiotics, long-term low-dose macrolides, inhaled interferon β, influenza vaccination, Antifungal drugs
Eosinophilic airway inflammation	Sputum eosinophils, Blood eosinophils, FeNO	Inhaled corticosteroids, oral corticosteroids, leukotriene receptor antagonists, anti-IgE, anti-interleukin-5, −13, −4

Adapted from Pavord et al (1). FEV1/FVC, forced expiratory volume in 1 sec/forced volume vital capacity ratio; ACE, angiotensin converting enzyme; FeNO, fraction of exhaled nitric oxide; PC₂₀, provocative concentration causing a 20% fall in FEV1.