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Kotoulas SC, Katsaounou P, Riha R, Grigoriou I, Papakosta D, Spyratos D, Porpodis K, Domvri K, Pataka A. Electronic Cigarettes and Asthma: What Do We Know So Far? J Pers Med 2021; 11:jpm11080723. [PMID: 34442368 PMCID: PMC8399607 DOI: 10.3390/jpm11080723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Electronic cigarettes (EC) are a novel product, marketed as an alternative to tobacco cigarette. Its effects on human health have not been investigated widely yet, especially in specific populations such as patients with asthma. With this review, we use the existing literature in order to answer four crucial questions concerning: (1) ECs' role in the pathogenesis of asthma; (2) ECs' effects on lung function and airway inflammation in patients with asthma; (3) ECs' effects on asthma clinical characteristics in asthmatics who use it regularly; and (4) ECs' effectiveness as a smoking cessation tool in these patients. Evidence suggests that many EC compounds might contribute to the pathogenesis of asthma. Lung function seems to deteriorate by the use of EC in this population, while airway inflammation alters, with the aggravation of T-helper-type-2 (Th2) inflammation being the most prominent but not the exclusive effect. EC also seems to worsen asthma symptoms and the rate and severity of exacerbations in asthmatics who are current vapers, whilst evidence suggests that its effectiveness as a smoking cessation tool might be limited. Asthmatic patients should avoid using EC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serafeim-Chrysovalantis Kotoulas
- Clinic of Respiratory Failure, General Hospital of Thessaloniki Georgios Papanikolaou, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Leoforos Papanikolaou, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (I.G.); (A.P.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +30-6977-705450
| | - Paraskevi Katsaounou
- 1st ICU “Evangelismos Hospital”, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Ypsilantou 45-47, 10676 Athens, Greece;
| | - Renata Riha
- Sleep Research Unit, Department of Sleep Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 51 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4SA, UK;
| | - Ioanna Grigoriou
- Clinic of Respiratory Failure, General Hospital of Thessaloniki Georgios Papanikolaou, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Leoforos Papanikolaou, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (I.G.); (A.P.)
| | - Despoina Papakosta
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, General Hospital of Thessaloniki “Georgios Papanikolaou”, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Leoforos Papanikolaou, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (D.P.); (D.S.); (K.P.); (K.D.)
| | - Dionysios Spyratos
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, General Hospital of Thessaloniki “Georgios Papanikolaou”, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Leoforos Papanikolaou, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (D.P.); (D.S.); (K.P.); (K.D.)
| | - Konstantinos Porpodis
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, General Hospital of Thessaloniki “Georgios Papanikolaou”, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Leoforos Papanikolaou, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (D.P.); (D.S.); (K.P.); (K.D.)
| | - Kalliopi Domvri
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, General Hospital of Thessaloniki “Georgios Papanikolaou”, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Leoforos Papanikolaou, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (D.P.); (D.S.); (K.P.); (K.D.)
| | - Athanasia Pataka
- Clinic of Respiratory Failure, General Hospital of Thessaloniki Georgios Papanikolaou, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Leoforos Papanikolaou, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (I.G.); (A.P.)
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