Eosinophilic COPD is a pretty relatively common condition.
The condition eosinophilic COPD, affects around 20 percent to 40 percent of people with COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and it's identified by having elevated levels of a type of white blood cell called eosinophils in the blood or airways.
Eosinophilic COPD due to elevated levels of eosinophils is a key biomarker for personalizing of treatments like inhaled corticosteroids.
Between 20 percent to 40 percent of stable COPD patients also exhibit persistent blood eosinophilia or airway eosinophilia, although estimates can also sometimes be higher depending on the clinical definitions and the thresholds.
The prevalence of eosinophilic COPD is also often measured using either blood samples or sputum samples,.
And a common threshold is a blood eosinophil count of > 300 cells per microliter of blood.
The prevalence of airway eosinophilia also significantly spikes during acute COPD flare ups, which also increases hospital readmissions.
Eosinophilic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a specific phenotype where elevated levels of eosinophils (a type of white blood cell) contribute to airway inflammation.
Unlike the traditional COPD, which can be resistant to steroids, the eosinophilic COPD type is usually characterized by a strong response to anti-inflammatory medications.
Standard therapy for eosinophilic COPD usually involves ICS that is combined with long acting bronchodilators, like LABA/LAMA.
And higher blood eosinophil counts act as a predictive marker for a favorable response to ICS.
And for people with severe and uncontrolled eosinophilic COPD despite standard inhalers, targeted biologic injectables are also available.
And therapies like dupilumab are also prescribed for blocking specific pathways like IL-4 and IL-5, which drives the inflammation.
Eosinophilic inflammation is often measured via blood tests, sputum analysis tests or fractional exhaled nitric oxide or FeNO.
And roughly around 30 to 40 percent of people with COPD, experience persistent or intermittent eosinophilia.
And people with the eosinophilic COPD phenotype are also at higher risk for frequent lung function decline and severe exacerbations.