Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (AERD) Video Series
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AERD affects between 1.2 million to 1.6 million people in the United States. It usually develops in adulthood, usually between the ages of 20 and 50.
Diagnosis is a challenge for people with AERD. The disease is often misdiagnosed for years. Plus, symptoms can vary in severity from person to person. The key feature of AERD is that patients will develop respiratory reactions to aspirin and other NSAIDS. They may also have high levels of eosinophils in their blood.
Treatment starts with avoiding aspirin and NSAIDs to prevent reactions. People with AERD must also treat the symptoms that arise from their asthma and nasal polyps.
These short videos provide an overview of AERD, including diagnosis, symptoms, medications and management strategies. If there are any videos you’d like to see in our “Learning Pathways: Info in Minutes” series, please contact us at Allergy & Asthma Network.
AERD 101:
AERD 101 Video Transcript
Slide 1
Welcome to Allergy & Asthma Network’s Patient Learning Pathways series.
Slide 2
Today we’ll be looking at Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease or AERD.
Slide 3
Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (also called Samter’s Triad) is a medical condition that consists of three distinct clinical features:
Slide 4
- asthma
- sinus disease with recurrent nasal polyps
- and a sensitivity to aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Slide 5
People with AERD experience respiratory reactions that happen when they take or inhale an NSAID medication, or apply it to the skin.
These reactions involve both upper respiratory symptoms (increased nasal congestion, frontal headache or sinus pain, and sneezing) as well as lower respiratory symptoms (cough, wheezing, chest tightness), but they can also induce skin flushing, rash, abdominal pain and occasionally vomiting.
Slide 6
The exact cause of AERD is not known.
Slide 7
About 30% of adults with asthma and nasal polyps have AERD – estimated to be 1.2 million to 1.6 million people in the United States.
Slide 8
AERD can develop quite suddenly in adulthood, usually between the ages of 20 and 50. There is no clearly understood trigger that causes the disease.
Slide 9
People with AERD have asthma, nasal congestion and recurrent nasal polyps. Symptoms often do not respond sufficiently to conventional treatments.
Symptoms can include:
- Nasal congestion – prolonged severe sneezing
- Itchy, watery, red eyes
- Coughing, wheezing, chest tightness
- Headache or sinus pressure
- Nausea or abdominal pain
- Hives or a rash
- Alcohol intolerance
Slide 10
When someone with AERD takes aspirin or an NSAID, the range of symptoms will often vary widely from person to person.
Slide 11
Most people with AERD find that living with this chronic condition is challenging. Some AERD patients feel like their body reacts to everything!
Slide 12
One AERD patient described the feeling as having the worst cold that you have ever had, and it never goes away. Then you have asthma and severe reactions on top of that.
Slide 13
AERD symptoms often do not respond to regular treatments.
Most people experience chronic sinus infections. A loss of sense of smell is common.
Slide 14
Most people also experience growths in their nose called polyps. The polyps may need to be removed through surgery. After a period of time, the polyps may return.
Slide 15
About 75% of all people with AERD develop mild to moderate breathing reactions when they drink alcohol.
Slide 16
With a proper diagnosis, AERD patients can be on the road to managing their disease.
Slide 17
Other presentations in our Patient Learning Pathways series will describe the process of diagnosing AERD as well as managing the disease.
Slide 18
People with AERD can live full and healthy lives by making lifestyle changes and getting a treatment plan from their doctor.
Slide 19
Join us for another Patient Learning Pathways presentation. Allergy & Asthma Network is working every day to end the needless death and suffering due to asthma, allergies and related conditions. We do this through outreach, education, advocacy and research.
AERD Diagnosis:
AERD Diagnosis Video Transcript
Slide 1
Welcome to Allergy & Asthma Network’s Patient Learning Pathways series.
Slide 2
Today’s program will discuss the diagnosis of Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease, or AERD.
Slide 3
Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (also called Samter’s Triad) is a medical condition that consists of three clinical features:
Slide 4
- asthma
- sinus disease with recurrent nasal polyps
- and a sensitivity to aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Slide 5
Many people find that diagnosis is often delayed or missed. There is no one specific test or blood result that alone can be used to diagnose AERD.
Slide 6
The diagnosis of AERD is made by a doctor:
- listening to the patient’s medical history
- doing a medical examination
- doing additional tests.
Slide 7
The medical history may reveal a typical feature of AERD: people experience breathing problems after taking aspirin or other NSAID medications.
Slide 8
Asthma can be confirmed by:
- medical history
- physical examination
- tests
Slide 9
Physical examination can reveal nasal polyps, or growths in the nose.
Slide 10
Blood tests may reveal a high number of eosinophils. Eosinophils are a type of immune cell involved in inflammation. High eosinophils is not required as part of the diagnosis, but it does provide helpful insight.
Slide 11
A doctor may need to do aspirin desensitization. This can confirm an aspirin sensitivity. Consider aspirin desensitization whenever asthma and nasal polyps are present.
Slide 12
The doctor can use all of these findings to confirm the AERD diagnosis.
Slide 13
Other presentations in our patient learning pathways series will describe AERD in more detail as well as provide guidance on managing the disease.
Slide 14
Join us for another Patient Learning Pathways presentation. Allergy & Asthma Network is working every day to end the needless death and suffering due to asthma, allergies and related conditions. We do this through outreach, education, advocacy and research.
AERD Management:
AERD Management Video Transcript
Slide 1
Welcome to Allergy & Asthma Network’s Patient Learning Pathways series.
Slide 2
Today’s program will look at managing medical therapy and living with Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease, or AERD.
Slide 3
Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease is also called Samter’s Triad. AERD is a medical condition consisting of three clinical features:
Slide 4
- asthma
- sinus disease with recurrent nasal polyps
- and a sensitivity to aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Slide 5
The goal of AERD management and treatment is twofold: to prevent reactions and to manage asthma symptoms.
Slide 6
People with AERD need to avoid aspirin and all other NSAIDs to prevent reactions.
Acetaminophen can be used as an alternative to treat body aches, colds and fevers. Many people find that acetaminophen is usually safely tolerated at low doses.
Slide 7
People may continue to have symptoms of asthma, nasal congestion and polyps even if they avoid NSAIDS.
Slide 8
Most people will need to use daily medications to control their AERD symptoms including Inhaled corticosteroids for asthma, Intranasal steroid sprays or steroid sinus rinses to help control nasal symptoms and Corticosteroid injections to treat nasal polyps.
Slide 9
Biologic medications may be of benefit: These include Mepolizumab, Omalizumab, Dupilumab, Reslizumab and Benralizumab.
Biologics are approved for treatment of severe asthma. Biologics are not currently approved to treat AERD.
Slide 10
Several non-steroid medications may be of benefit: First, Zileuton inhibits the production of leukotrienes and Montelukast and zafirlukast block the function of leukotrienes.
Slide 11
People with AERD often need to have surgical removal of nasal polyps.
Unfortunately, it’s common for nasal polyps to return after surgery.
Slide 12
Aspirin desensitization or long-term daily aspirin therapy is also a treatment for some AERD patients.
Desensitization consists of administering gradually increasing doses of aspirin.
Slide 13
The goals of aspirin desensitization are to decrease the regrowth of nasal polyps and reduce the need for corticosteroid medications.
Slide 14
An added benefit of desensitization is that it allows patients to tolerate aspirin and NSAIDs again.
Slide 15
Aspirin desensitization should only be performed under the guidance of a physician in a hospital or clinic that specializes in this treatment.
Slide 16
Other presentations in our patient learning pathways series will describe AERD in more detail. They will also provide guidance on diagnosing the disease.
Slide 17
Join us for another Patient Learning Pathways presentation. Allergy & Asthma Network is working every day to end the needless death and suffering due to asthma, allergies and related conditions. We do this through outreach, education, advocacy and research.
