Researchers have been able to identify a potential option for treating asthma, as per a small study in Thorax. This treatment option is concerned with treating severe form of asthma by blocking a powerful immune system chemical that is present in large quantities in asthmatic patients.

Severe asthma is rare as one in every 10 people with asthma is affected with it; high doses of steroids, in a progressive manner, are needed to control symptoms of this form of asthma.

From Sciencedaily.com:

Seventeen people with severe asthma who still had symptoms, despite being treated with a range of drugs, were also given 25 mg of a drug that blocks TNF alpha production (etanercept) twice weekly, injected below the skin for 12 weeks. Fifteen completed the course.

At the end of the study period, these patients experienced a significant improvement in symptoms and lung function. Two patients were able to discontinue one of their drugs.

The treatment also curbed the inflammatory reaction in the lungs, known as bronchial hyperresponsiveness. And there were few side effects.

The authors caution that further research will be required before this approach can be recommended, but they say that it offers a potentially new avenue of treatment for severe asthma.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), which is found in many chronic inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and psoriasis, was investigated by the research team.