Severe Asthma Research Program - University of Virginia (SARP3)

Inclusion Criteria:

Physician diagnosis of asthma

• Age 6 years to 17 years old Evidence of historical reversibility, including either;

1. FEV1 bronchodilator reversibility greater than or equal to 12%, or
2. Airway hyperresponsivesness reflected by a methacholine PC20 less than or equal to 16 mg/ml.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Exclusion criteria include any of the following:

  1. Pregnancy during the characterization phase*,
  2. Current smoking,
  3. Smoking history > 10 pack years if ≥30 years of age, or smoking history > 5 pack years if <30 years of age (Note: if a subject has a smoking history, no smoking within the past year),
  4. Other chronic pulmonary disorders associated with asthma-like symptoms, including (but not limited to) cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis, vocal cord dysfunction (that is the sole cause of respiratory symptoms and at the PI's discretion), severe scoliosis or chest wall deformities that affect lung function, or congenital disorders of the lungs or airways,
  5. History of premature birth before 35 weeks gestation,
  6. Unwillingness to receive an intramuscular triamcinolone acetonide injection.
  7. Evidence that the participant or family may be unreliable or poorly adherent to their asthma treatment or study procedures,
  8. Planning to relocate from the clinical center area before study completion,
  9. Any other criteria that place the subject at unnecessary risk according to the judgment of the Principal Investigator and/or attending physician(s) of record, or
  10. Currently participating in an investigational drug trial.