What is aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD)
Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) is a clinical tetrad of nasal polyps, chronic hypertrophic eosinophilic sinusitis, asthma and sensitivity to any medication that inhibits cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) enzymes, namely aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) Ingestion of aspirin, and most NSAIDs, results in a spectrum of upper and/or lower respiratory reactions, to include rhinitis, conjunctivitis, laryngospasm and bronchospasm.1,2 AERD affects 0.3-0.9% of the general population, but the prevalence rises to 10-20% of asthmatics and up to 30-40% in those asthmatics with nasal polyposis.3-7 The average age of onset is 34 years in a US study and is thought to be acquired between teenage to middle adulthood years with no ethnic predilection and rare familial associations.3-7 AERD is more commonly reported in females (57% vs. 43%).
Note from the WAF editorial board: The WAF would like to acknowledge and thank Rachel U. Lee1 and Donald D. Stevenson, Division of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Portsmouth, VA, USA. and the Division of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, Scripps Clinic, San Diego, CA, USA for their continued support to Asthma education,.