Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease and the Unified Airway: A Contemporary Review

Abstract

Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) is characterized by abnormal arachidonic acid metabolism leading to chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP), asthma, and upper and/or lower respiratory symptoms after ingestion of cyclooxygenase-1 inhibiting nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. Diagnosis is clinical and may involve an aspirin challenge. Inflammatory biomarkers may be useful for diagnosis and treatment monitoring. Conventional medical management for asthma and CRSwNP is often inadequate. Endoscopic sinus surgery followed by continued medical management with or without aspirin desensitization frequently improves symptoms and objective disease measures. Biological agents targeting eosinophilic inflammation are promising alternatives to conventional management.

Keywords: Aspirin intolerance; Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease; Asthma; Biological agents; Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis; NSAID intolerance; Samter's Triad.