ERJ Open ResearchPub Date : 2026-09-28eCollection Date: 2026-09-01DOI: 10.1183/23120541.00049-2026
Célia Petitjean, Edouard Ollier, Pierre Labeix, Isabelle Court-Fortune, Frédéric Roche
{"title":"Effect of ventilatory support pressure during exercise on endurance time in patients with COPD: a systematic review.","authors":"Célia Petitjean, Edouard Ollier, Pierre Labeix, Isabelle Court-Fortune, Frédéric Roche","doi":"10.1183/23120541.00049-2026","DOIUrl":"10.1183/23120541.00049-2026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Rationale: </strong>Noninvasive ventilation during exercise has been proposed to improve exercise tolerance in patients with COPD. However, the influence of fixed pressure support intensity on endurance performance and exercise-related physiological responses remains insufficiently clarified.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines (PROSPERO CRD420251018584). Randomised controlled and crossover trials evaluating noninvasive ventilation delivered in fixed pressure support mode during exercise were included. Random-effects models were applied to pool standardised mean differences (SMD). Mixed-effects meta-regression analyses assessed the association between pressure support level and outcomes. The primary outcome was endurance time. Secondary outcomes included dyspnoea (modified Borg scale) and hypercapnia.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 15 studies (285 participants) were included. Noninvasive ventilation significantly improved endurance time compared with control conditions (SMD 0.47, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.73). Pressure support intensity was not significantly associated with endurance time (β=0.0345 per cmH<sub>2</sub>O, p=0.25). Dyspnoea was significantly reduced in pooled analysis (SMD -0.50, 95% CI -0.92 to -0.08) and showed a significant dose-response relationship with pressure support (β= -0.0880 per cmH<sub>2</sub>O, p=0.019). Carbon dioxide tension was significantly reduced with noninvasive ventilation (SMD -0.48, 95% CI -0.92 to -0.04, I<sup>2</sup>=68.2%), with a pressure-dependent reduction observed when post-exercise measurements were excluded (β= -0.1055 per cmH<sub>2</sub>O, p=0.033).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Noninvasive ventilation during exercise improves endurance and dyspnoea in COPD. Pressure support intensity influences ventilatory unloading, but endurance performance appears multifactorial. Further standardised studies are needed to optimise pressure titration during exercise.</p>","PeriodicalId":11739,"journal":{"name":"ERJ Open Research","volume":"12 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13617614/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149073811","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ERJ Open ResearchPub Date : 2026-09-28eCollection Date: 2026-09-01DOI: 10.1183/23120541.01644-2025
Simon O Haas, Nicola Benjamin, Memoona Shaukat, Marc A Schneider, Sarah Richtmann, Natascha Sommer, Karen M Olsson, Marius M Hoeper, Vivienne Theobald, Satenik Harutyunova, Panagiota Xanthouli, Benjamin Egenlauf, Ekkehard Grünig, Christina A Eichstaedt
{"title":"Impaired <i>BMPR2</i> signalling across pulmonary hypertension subgroups: a multicentre study.","authors":"Simon O Haas, Nicola Benjamin, Memoona Shaukat, Marc A Schneider, Sarah Richtmann, Natascha Sommer, Karen M Olsson, Marius M Hoeper, Vivienne Theobald, Satenik Harutyunova, Panagiota Xanthouli, Benjamin Egenlauf, Ekkehard Grünig, Christina A Eichstaedt","doi":"10.1183/23120541.01644-2025","DOIUrl":"10.1183/23120541.01644-2025","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension (HPAH) patients, bone morphogenetic protein receptor 2 (BMPR2) signalling and blood mRNA expression are disturbed and reduced. It is unclear whether <i>BMPR2</i> expression is also altered in other pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) forms or in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). We aimed to investigate the expression of BMPR2 signalling pathway components in different subgroups of pulmonary hypertension (PH) patients and healthy controls.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this multicentre, cross-sectional study, a total of 234 subjects were included in seven cohorts: 30 HPAH patients, 38 idiopathic PAH without and 40 idiopathic PAH with comorbidities, 38 systemic sclerosis-associated PAH, 47 CTEPH patients, 9 healthy <i>BMPR2</i> pathogenic variant carriers and 32 healthy controls. ELISAs and qPCR were performed on peripheral blood samples for BMP10, BMPR2, SMAD5, ID1 and EIF2AK4. Univariate ANOVA was used to compare expression across groups.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong><i>BMPR2</i> mRNA expression was significantly reduced in all PH subgroups compared with healthy controls (p<0.001). Lower <i>BMPR2</i> mRNA expression correlated with worse haemodynamics. BMP10 protein expression showed significant differences between the analysed groups (p<0.001). Higher BMP10 protein levels correlated with worse cardiac output (p=0.005), World Health Organization functional class (p=0.002), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (p=0.003) and 6-min walking distance (p=0.003).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our data suggest that <i>BMPR2</i> mRNA expression is not only significantly reduced in carriers of pathogenic <i>BMPR2</i> variants, but also across all other assessed PAH subgroups and in CTEPH, indicating a potential general impairment of BMPR2 signalling. <i>BMPR2</i> mRNA and BMP10 protein expression in blood may serve as novel biomarkers for disease severity.</p>","PeriodicalId":11739,"journal":{"name":"ERJ Open Research","volume":"12 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13617594/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149073799","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Comment on: Rectifying COPD management: a critical analysis of the global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease strategy.","authors":"Umberto Semenzato, Ylenia Padrin, Daniele Previtero, Mariaenrica Tinè, Erica Bazzan, Graziella Turato","doi":"10.1183/23120541.00472-2026","DOIUrl":"10.1183/23120541.00472-2026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>COPD diagnosis should move beyond spirometry toward a multidimensional framework integrating symptoms, imaging and biology, enabling better recognition of disease overlap and more precise, treatable trait-based management</b> https://bit.ly/4sKXmyv.</p>","PeriodicalId":11739,"journal":{"name":"ERJ Open Research","volume":"12 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13617599/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149073831","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ERJ Open ResearchPub Date : 2026-09-28eCollection Date: 2026-09-01DOI: 10.1183/23120541.00195-2026
Federico Bianco, Lauren Ingledow, Silke Mader, Laura Costa, Ulrica Scaffidi-Argentina, Xabier Murgia, Anna Lavizzari, Daiana Stolz, Alberto Papi, Alvar Agustí, Eugenio Baraldi
{"title":"Healthcare journey of preterm-born adults with respiratory disease: the EMPOWER survey.","authors":"Federico Bianco, Lauren Ingledow, Silke Mader, Laura Costa, Ulrica Scaffidi-Argentina, Xabier Murgia, Anna Lavizzari, Daiana Stolz, Alberto Papi, Alvar Agustí, Eugenio Baraldi","doi":"10.1183/23120541.00195-2026","DOIUrl":"10.1183/23120541.00195-2026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Preterm birth is a recognised risk factor for lung disease later in life. However, awareness of this risk among preterm-born adults and whether it is discussed with their treating physicians is unknown. The EMPOWER survey assessed awareness of the preterm status among preterm-born adults with asthma and COPD and evaluated its consideration in disease management.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Preterm-born subjects aged ≥18 years with physician-diagnosed asthma and/or COPD from France, Germany, Spain, the UK and the US completed a 34-item online questionnaire. The survey covered sociodemographics, medical history, awareness of perinatal events and interactions with healthcare providers.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 3175 individuals who initiated the survey, 301 participants (median age 55 years, interquartile range 39-64 years) were included in the final analysis (9.5% response rate). Most respondents knew their gestational age (87%) and birthweight (89%), primarily from parents and caregivers (81%), with just 19% obtaining information from medical records. Over half (58%) reported receiving neonatal intensive care, most commonly assisted ventilation (35%) and nutritional support (24%). While 54% considered preterm birth relevant to respiratory management, 59% had not disclosed this history to their physician. Only 24% reported spontaneous disclosure and just 11% shared the history in response to physician inquiry. Paediatric monitoring was reported by 45%, but follow-up rarely extended into adulthood.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Although preterm-born adults with obstructive respiratory disease are aware of their neonatal history, it is seldom integrated into adult respiratory care. Limited patient disclosure, infrequent physician inquiry and lack of structured long-term follow-up likely contribute to this gap.</p>","PeriodicalId":11739,"journal":{"name":"ERJ Open Research","volume":"12 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13617606/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149073834","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ERJ Open ResearchPub Date : 2026-09-21eCollection Date: 2026-09-01DOI: 10.1183/23120541.00848-2026
Sneha Chakraverty, Neha Maru, Dimitris Megaritis, Emily Hume, Nikolas Chynkiamis, Gabriel Cucato, Eurico N Wilhelm, Ioannis Vogiatzis
{"title":"Reply to: Accurately synthesising evidence for long COVID rehabilitation.","authors":"Sneha Chakraverty, Neha Maru, Dimitris Megaritis, Emily Hume, Nikolas Chynkiamis, Gabriel Cucato, Eurico N Wilhelm, Ioannis Vogiatzis","doi":"10.1183/23120541.00848-2026","DOIUrl":"10.1183/23120541.00848-2026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Methodological flexibility is often required in evolving evidence bases, but must be accompanied by clear, transparent reporting to preserve scientific rigour</b> https://bit.ly/4v60M0I.</p>","PeriodicalId":11739,"journal":{"name":"ERJ Open Research","volume":"12 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13591291/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149015910","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ERJ Open ResearchPub Date : 2026-09-21eCollection Date: 2026-09-01DOI: 10.1183/23120541.00480-2026
Jan Fuge, Christina Valtin, Tobias Welte, Martina Bönsch, Klaus Kenn, Sandra Winterkamp, Bernd Sczepanski, Andreas Rembert Koczulla
{"title":"Two questions to prioritise laryngoscopy in suspected vocal cord dysfunction/inducible laryngeal obstruction.","authors":"Jan Fuge, Christina Valtin, Tobias Welte, Martina Bönsch, Klaus Kenn, Sandra Winterkamp, Bernd Sczepanski, Andreas Rembert Koczulla","doi":"10.1183/23120541.00480-2026","DOIUrl":"10.1183/23120541.00480-2026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Two simple factors, throat tightness and symptom onset within seconds, were the strongest predictors of VCD/ILO in this referral cohort, and may help clinicians prioritise patients with unexplained dyspnoea or cough for laryngoscopy</b> https://bit.ly/4aTCsXN.</p>","PeriodicalId":11739,"journal":{"name":"ERJ Open Research","volume":"12 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13591297/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149015913","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ERJ Open ResearchPub Date : 2026-09-21eCollection Date: 2026-09-01DOI: 10.1183/23120541.00550-2026
Jack Reeves, Sonia W M Cheng
{"title":"Accurately synthesising evidence for long COVID rehabilitation.","authors":"Jack Reeves, Sonia W M Cheng","doi":"10.1183/23120541.00550-2026","DOIUrl":"10.1183/23120541.00550-2026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>New correspondence: reflections on a recent systematic review of rehabilitation for long COVID</b> https://bit.ly/4wMsD7y.</p>","PeriodicalId":11739,"journal":{"name":"ERJ Open Research","volume":"12 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13591289/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149015840","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ERJ Open ResearchPub Date : 2026-09-21eCollection Date: 2026-09-01DOI: 10.1183/23120541.00418-2026
Alberto Papi, David M G Halpin, Robert G Feldman, Michael G Ison, Tino F Schwarz, Dong-Gun Lee, Raffaele Antonelli Incalzi, Laurence Fissette, Stebin Xavier, Marie-Pierre David, Jean-Philippe Michaud, Shady Kotb, Céline Maréchal, Aurélie Olivier, Veronica Hulstrøm, Marie Van der Wielen
{"title":"Adjuvanted RSVPreF3 vaccine impact over three respiratory syncytial virus seasons in older adults with comorbidities.","authors":"Alberto Papi, David M G Halpin, Robert G Feldman, Michael G Ison, Tino F Schwarz, Dong-Gun Lee, Raffaele Antonelli Incalzi, Laurence Fissette, Stebin Xavier, Marie-Pierre David, Jean-Philippe Michaud, Shady Kotb, Céline Maréchal, Aurélie Olivier, Veronica Hulstrøm, Marie Van der Wielen","doi":"10.1183/23120541.00418-2026","DOIUrl":"10.1183/23120541.00418-2026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>We explored the efficacy of AS01<sub>E</sub>-adjuvanted respiratory syncytial virus prefusion F protein-based vaccine (adjuvanted RSVPreF3) in subpopulations of participants with underlying medical conditions in the multi-country, phase 3 AReSVi-006 trial (conducted between May 2021 and May 2024).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Medically stable ≥60-year-olds were 1:1-randomised to receive one adjuvanted RSVPreF3 or placebo dose pre-RSV season 1. In exploratory <i>post hoc</i> analyses in subgroups of participants with underlying conditions (including COPD, asthma, diabetes and obesity (body mass index ≥30 kg·m<sup>-2</sup>)), we evaluated efficacy of one vaccine dose against RSV-related lower respiratory tract disease (RSV-LRTD), RSV-related acute respiratory illness (RSV-ARI) and RSV-ARI-related complications (<i>e.g.</i>, pneumonia, COPD/asthma exacerbation and cardiovascular events). We also evaluated (<i>post hoc</i>) RSV-ARI-related systemic corticosteroid and antibiotics use in participants with COPD or asthma.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The efficacy analyses comprised 12 468 vaccine and 12 498 placebo recipients. Efficacy against RSV-LRTD over three RSV seasons was similar among participants with COPD (75.1%, 95% CI: 40.2-91.4), asthma (65.8%, 31.0-84.7), diabetes (69.8%, 37.5-87.1) and obesity (74.1%, 56.4-85.5) as in the overall study population (62.9%, 97.5% CI: 46.7-74.8). Efficacy was also observed against RSV-ARI in these subgroups. Efficacy against RSV-ARI-related complications was 74.4% (95% CI: 11.2-95.2) in participants with COPD and 60.8% (-9.9-88.7) in those with asthma. Among participants with COPD, 15.4% (1.9-45.4) of RSV-ARI episodes in vaccine <i>versus</i> 22.4% (12.5-35.3) in placebo recipients were treated with systemic corticosteroids, and 46.2% (19.2-74.9) <i>versus</i> 56.9% (43.2-69.8) with antibiotics.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong><i>Post hoc</i> analyses of the AReSVi-006 trial suggest that adjuvanted RSVPreF3 may help prevent RSV-ARI, RSV-LRTD and RSV-related complications in medically stable older adults with underlying medical conditions like COPD and asthma.</p>","PeriodicalId":11739,"journal":{"name":"ERJ Open Research","volume":"12 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13591300/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149015861","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ERJ Open ResearchPub Date : 2026-09-21eCollection Date: 2026-09-01DOI: 10.1183/23120541.01528-2025
Teresa Fuchs, Katharina Niedermayr, Anja Siedl, Verena Gasser, Johannes Eder, Helmut Ellemunter, Dorothea Appelt
{"title":"Changes of inflammatory markers in nasal lavage samples after 2 years of elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor therapy in paediatric and adult cystic fibrosis patients.","authors":"Teresa Fuchs, Katharina Niedermayr, Anja Siedl, Verena Gasser, Johannes Eder, Helmut Ellemunter, Dorothea Appelt","doi":"10.1183/23120541.01528-2025","DOIUrl":"10.1183/23120541.01528-2025","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The introduction of elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) therapy has markedly improved the prognosis for people with cystic fibrosis (CF). However, its effect on airway inflammation remains a subject of ongoing debate. We aimed to assess the potential long-term impact of ETI on cytokines measured in nasal lavage (NL) samples in a paediatric cohort and an adult cohort.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This prospective study collected clinical data and NL samples at baseline, weeks 4 and 16, and 1, 1.5 and 2 years after initiation of ETI therapy. The following cytokines were measured: neutrophil elastase (NE), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Cytokines were compared to a sex- and age-matched healthy control group.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In total, 44 paediatric and adult patients and 49 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. In the paediatric cohort, NE levels decreased (p≤0.05) and reached values comparable to those of healthy controls, whereas the remaining cytokines were within the normal range at baseline. In adults, NE decreased significantly (p≤0.05), but did not reach levels of normal concentrations. IL-8 (p≤0.01) and VEGF (p≤0.05) increased in the 24-month observation period, while IL-6 showed no significant change.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our data demonstrate changes in inflammatory markers 2 years after starting ETI therapy; however, these changes reached statistical significance only in part. In the paediatric cohort, cytokine levels - except for NE - were already comparable to those of healthy controls at baseline. In the adult cohort, a trend towards increasing values was observed. Further studies are required to confirm NL as a suitable sample material for assessing airway inflammation and to substantiate the trends described in our study.</p>","PeriodicalId":11739,"journal":{"name":"ERJ Open Research","volume":"12 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13591284/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149015829","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ERJ Open ResearchPub Date : 2026-09-21eCollection Date: 2026-09-01DOI: 10.1183/23120541.01795-2025
Susanne Herold, Tobias Welte, Kai Zacharowski, Patrick Meybohm, Michael Bauer, Jochen Wilhelm, Hans-Dieter Walmrath, Khodr Tello, István Vadász, Matthias Hecker, Christina Malainou, Irina Kuznetsova, Ulrich Matt, Janina Trauth, Werner Seeger, Jürgen Lohmeyer
{"title":"Inhaled granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (molgramostim) as host-directed therapy for pneumonia-related acute respiratory distress syndrome: a multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled phase 2a trial (GI-HOPE).","authors":"Susanne Herold, Tobias Welte, Kai Zacharowski, Patrick Meybohm, Michael Bauer, Jochen Wilhelm, Hans-Dieter Walmrath, Khodr Tello, István Vadász, Matthias Hecker, Christina Malainou, Irina Kuznetsova, Ulrich Matt, Janina Trauth, Werner Seeger, Jürgen Lohmeyer","doi":"10.1183/23120541.01795-2025","DOIUrl":"10.1183/23120541.01795-2025","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) enhances pulmonary host defence and promotes re-establishment of alveolar barrier function. We investigated the safety, feasibility and efficacy of nebulised recombinant human (rh)GM-CSF (molgramostim) in pneumonia-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this multicentre, randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, investigator-initiated phase 2a trial, patients were randomised to receive nebulised low-dose (150 μg) or high-dose (450 μg) rhGM-CSF or placebo for 3 days. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed before the first dose and after dosing. The primary outcome parameter was the composite GI-HOPE score, representing expression changes of CD80, CD86, CD206 and human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR on alveolar macrophages after dosing compared to baseline. Secondary outcomes included oxygenation, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores and clinical end-points at day 28.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>46 participants were randomised, 43 completed treatment (n=15 placebo, n=16 low dose and n=12 high dose), and BAL was performed on 38 participants before and after treatment. Although the composite biological GI-HOPE score did not reach significance (p>0.05), high-dose treatment caused upregulation of HLA-DR and CD206 on alveolar macrophages, indicating deposition in the alveolar compartment and beneficial macrophage activation (HLA-DR: p=0.0406 <i>versus</i> low dose, p=0.1841 <i>versus</i> placebo; CD206: p=0.009 <i>versus</i> low dose, p=0.0179 <i>versus</i> placebo). High-dose rhGM-CSF treatment revealed a favourable profile of oxygenation at the end of analysis compared to time-points before inhalation (p=0.095 and p=0.0175) or compared to the low-dose and placebo groups (p=0.0063 and p=0.0198; visit 13), and was associated with decreased SOFA scores in the high-dose group over time (p=0.0013 and p=0.00023 compared to low dose and placebo). Importantly, inhaled rhGM-CSF did not increase alveolar or systemic inflammation.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Inhalation of 450 μg rhGM-CSF was safe, and promoted a favourable profile regarding alveolar macrophage activation, oxygenation and SOFA scores over time; however, it did not lead to differences in the GI-HOPE score.</p>","PeriodicalId":11739,"journal":{"name":"ERJ Open Research","volume":"12 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13591301/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149015856","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}