Preschool wheeze and asthma endotypes- implications for future therapy

Introduction: Preschool wheeze and school-aged asthma present a large healthcare burden. Both conditions are now recognized to be heterogeneous, with similar symptom presentation but likely different underlying lung pathology.

Areas covered: Current treatment options for preschool wheeze are constrained by extrapolations from the management of school-aged children with asthma. While most cases of asthma at school age are caused by classical atopic, eosinophilic, Type-2 driven asthma, only a quarter of preschool children with wheeze fall into this category. Targeting treatment to specific underlying mechanisms resulting in preschool wheeze may alter the progression to school age asthma. Novel biologics have revolutionized the management of severe, treatment-resistant school age asthma, but a limited evidence base limits their use in young children. There are several potential future non-steroid-based treatment options in development, of which bacterial lysates show the most promise.

Expert opinion: Effective treatment of preschool wheeze may preserve lung function into later life, which may alter the progression trajectory toward school age asthma. Endotype-driven management will enable more effective treatment of both preschool wheeze and school age asthma.