New Research Highlights Inflammation Detection in Rare Lung Disease and Asthma Biologic Safety

Two recent studies have advanced understanding of respiratory diseases, identifying hidden systemic inflammation in primary ciliary dyskinesia and confirming that asthma biologics do not increase respiratory infection risk.

Researchers at UTHealth Houston identified hidden systemic inflammation in patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), even when they are not experiencing acute illness, according to a study published in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society. The research team found that a simple oral swab can detect the same inflammatory signals identified in blood, offering a needle-free method for home-based monitoring and treatment adjustment. PCD is a rare lung disease affecting approximately 1 in every 7,500 to 10,000 live births worldwide, with symptoms including chronic wet cough, persistent nasal congestion, recurrent respiratory infections, frequent pneumonias, chronic ear and sinus infections, and asthma-like symptoms. The study evaluated patients from the US, Puerto Rico, and Mexico, demonstrating that home-based saliva collection is feasible across diverse populations. The approach may help healthcare providers identify which treatments are most likely to work for a particular child and provide an easier way to monitor whether those treatments are effective, ultimately moving toward personalized care guided by each patient’s unique inflammatory profile.

In separate research presented at the 2026 AAAAI Annual Meeting, a retrospective matched cohort study found that asthma biologics were not associated with an increased risk of respiratory tract infections in real-world pediatric patients with moderate to severe asthma. Using the TriNetX US Collaborative Network, researchers analyzed data from patients 12 years old or younger who were on medium-to-high dose inhaled corticosteroids plus long-acting beta agonists. Biologic exposure included dupilumab, omalizumab, anti-IL-5 agents, or tezepelumab within three months of an indexed asthma diagnosis. After matching for demographics and comorbidities, the study found that dupilumab was associated with a lower probability of pneumonia (HR=0.81, 95% CI: 0.69-0.95; p=0.010) and lower respiratory infections (HR=0.79, 95% CI: 0.65-0.97; p=0.020). Anti-IL-5 agents were also associated with lower pneumonia risk (HR=0.87, 95% CI: 0.78-0.97; p=0.01). No increased infection risk was seen with omalizumab or tezepelumab.