Biomarkers for predicting response to long‐term high dose aspirin therapy in aspirin‐exacerbated respiratory disease

INTRODUCTION: Aspirin‐exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) is a phenotype of asthma characterized by eosinophilic inflammation in the airways, mast cell activation, cysteinyl leukotriene overproduction, and acute respiratory reactions on exposure to cyclooxygenase‐1 inhibitors. Aspirin desensitization followed by daily high‐dose aspirin therapy is a safe and effective treatment option for the majority of patients with AERD. However, there is still some percentage of the population who do not derive benefits from daily aspirin use. METHODS: Based on the current literature, the biomarkers, which might predict aspirin treatment outcomes in AERD patients, were evaluated. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Patients with severe symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis, type 2 asthma based on blood eosinophilia, non‐neutrophilic inflammatory phenotype based on sputum cells, as well as high plasma level of 15‐hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15‐HETE) are potentially good responders to long term high‐dose aspirin therapy. Additionally, high expression of the hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase gene, HPGD encoding prostaglandin‐degrading enzyme 15‐hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15‐PGDH) and low expression of the proteoglycan 2 gene, PRG2 encoding constituent of the eosinophil granule in sputum cells might serve as a predictor of good response to aspirin therapy. Variations in the expression of cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 in the airways could additionally influence the response to long‐term aspirin therapy. Arachidonic acid metabolites levels via the 5‐lipoxygenase as well as via the cyclooxygenase pathways in induced sputum supernatant do not change during high dose long‐term aspirin therapy and do not influence outcomes of aspirin treatment.