Type 2 inflammation connection

linked condition

Since the skin, nose, airways, and lungs are areas where type 2 inflammation can occur, there is a long list of types 2 inflammation-related conditions, including conditions that often occur together. Common coexistence conditions include:

• allergy – An allergy is a reaction of the immune system to normally harmless substances, such as certain foods or plants. People who are not allergic generally do not react to the substance.
• asthma – Asthma is a lung disease that causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways in the lungs, causing mild or severe breathing difficulties.
• Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) – In this chronic inflammatory condition, benign tumors called nasal polyps can form in the sinuses or nose, causing devastating symptoms such as sinus pressure and difficulty breathing. Even after surgical removal, nasal polyps often grow back.
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) – This disease damages the airways and other parts of the lungs, making breathing difficult. Smoking is the most common cause of COPD, but there are other causes, such as environmental pollutants.
• eczema – Eczema is a chronic inflammatory condition that causes skin to become dry, itchy, and inflamed. Atopic dermatitis is the most common form of eczema.
• Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) – This chronic condition occurs in response to triggers, such as certain foods or environmental allergens. A person’s esophagus becomes overloaded with white blood cells, causing painful swelling in the esophagus. It may become difficult to eat or swallow comfortably.
• pruritus nodules – This condition, which causes itchy skin bumps, can occur anywhere on the body but is most common on the abdomen, arms, and legs.
• hives – Hives, the medical term for hives, are red, itchy welts that can appear anywhere on the body and often come and go. Hives may keep coming back over several weeks or months, often without an apparent cause. These cases are called chronic spontaneous urticaria.

According to Gupta, when people have two or more of these conditions, HCPs should consider whether the underlying type 2 inflammation may be making these conditions worse. “Allergens such as pollen, pet dander, dust mites, and mold, as well as environmental factors such as pollution or infection, can trigger or worsen type 2 inflammation,” she said. “In these cases, it is important to calm down the underlying type 2 inflammation as much as possible to reduce the severity of the coexisting condition.”

Lack of awareness of type 2 inflammation by both patients and healthcare professionals can lead to delayed diagnosis, especially when more than one condition is present. This lack of awareness also means that the condition can take a huge toll on your quality of life, and you may not understand that seeking professional treatment could potentially make your chronic inflammatory condition much more manageable.

Type 2 Inflammation Diagnosis

Treating the underlying inflammation requires HCPs to identify inflammation that extends beyond one condition, such as asthma or EoE. One way HCPs can tell if there is widespread inflammation is by measuring the number of eosinophils in the blood.

Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell that protects the body from allergens. It may also be an indicator of type 2 inflammation. Having too many eosinophils in your blood can help your healthcare provider diagnose type 2 inflammation.

Another way your healthcare provider can identify type 2 inflammation in your body is with a breathing test called a partial exhalation nitric oxide test. This test measures the amount of nitric oxide you exhale with each breath. The more nitric oxide you have, the more your airways swell, Gupta said.

What types of HCPs can diagnose or manage type 2 inflammation-related diseases?

According to Gupta, if your condition is well managed, you don’t always need to see a specialist right away. “However, if you feel that your condition is not under control or is not responding to current treatment, you should seek a referral to a specialist.”

Of course, you may already be seeing a professional. For example, someone with eczema might see a dermatologist, someone with EoE might see a gastroenterologist, and someone with COPD might see a pulmonologist.

When dealing with a complex condition like type 2 inflammation, it is important to have a multidisciplinary medical team, so it may be a good idea to see an allergist. Allergists can help you manage all type 2 inflammation-related conditions and should have up-to-date knowledge of medications that may help. “Many of the drugs used for type 2 inflammation can help with more than one condition, but they are often biologics that require specialized knowledge and access,” Gupta said.

Disease management, not treatment

Unfortunately, there is no cure for allergic disease or type 2 inflammatory disease. “It can be managed with medication, but it’s important to understand that if you stop taking the medication, there’s a chance that type 2 inflammation will come back,” Gupta said.

If the underlying inflammation remains untreated, flare-ups can continue and sometimes get much worse. “External triggers like pollution, allergens and infections can cause more inflammation on top of what you already have, which can then get your body into serious trouble,” she said. “This is why we still have 11 deaths a day from asthma in this country, because the underlying inflammation is not being managed properly.”

On the other hand, if patients with type 2 inflammation-related diseases can control their inflammation with the right drug therapy and continue to monitor their condition, the outlook is bright. “With all the good treatment options available to us, we should be able to manage type 2 inflammation-related diseases to the point where you barely notice you have asthma, EoE or hives,” Gupta said. “With effective treatments and shared decision-making to choose the best regimen, we can finally get type 2 inflammation under control.”