A protein measured in a simple blood test may be a new biomarker to identify patients with the most serious form of asthma.
Identifying this new biomarker, YKL-40, brings investigators one step closer to a treatment for the millions of people with a severe form of the disease that is difficult to treat, the researchers say.
Asthma is characterised by chronic inflammation and structural changes in the airways. These symptoms are severe in some patients and mild in others.
Investigators are trying to find ways to control the inflammation and to understand the variation in severity.