Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34235210›Full record

ArticleERJ open research2021

The sputum transcriptome better predicts COPD exacerbations after the withdrawal of inhaled corticosteroids than sputum eosinophils.

Benedikt Ditz, Aartik Sarma, Huib A M Kerstjens, Jeroen J W Liesker, Erik Bathoorn, Judith M Vonk, Victor Bernal, Peter Horvatovich, Victor Guryev, Saharai Caldera and 4 more

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in ERJ open research, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.5field-weighted citation impact, top 17% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 13 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Induced sputum: current progress and prospect.European journal of medical research · 2025
    Review
  4. Review
  5. Review
  6. Article
  7. Review
  8. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors at 4 institutions in 3 countries.

Benedikt DitzDept of Pulmonary Diseases, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Aartik SarmaUniversity of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Huib A M KerstjensDept of Pulmonary Diseases, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7705-7927
Jeroen J W LieskerDept of Pulmonary Diseases, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Erik BathoornDept of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Judith M VonkUniversity of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD, Groningen, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7531-4547
Victor BernalDept of Analytical Biochemistry, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Peter HorvatovichDept of Analytical Biochemistry, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Victor GuryevEuropean Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5810-6022
Saharai CalderaDivision of Infectious Diseases, Dept of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Chaz LangelierDivision of Infectious Diseases, Dept of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Alen FaizDept of Pulmonary Diseases, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Stephanie A ChristensonUniversity of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Maarten van den BergeDept of Pulmonary Diseases, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
University Medical Center Groningen · NLUniversity of California, San Francisco · USUniversity of Groningen · NLUniversity of Technology Sydney · AU

Funding

Identifying the Th2 endotype in COPD: clinical and pathologic implicationsK23HL123778 · NHLBI · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · PI CHRISTENSON, STEPHANIE A · 2015 to 2019
$847k
NHLBI NIH HHS K23 HL123778
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionContinuing inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) use does not benefit all patients with COPD, yet it is difficult to determine which patients may safely sustain ICS withdrawal. Although eosinophil levels can facilitate this decision, better biomarkers could improve personalised treatment decisions.

methodsWe performed transcriptional profiling of sputum to explore the molecular biology and compared the predictive value of an unbiased gene signature

resultsIn multivariate analyses, we identified a gene signature (

conclusionWe identified a sputum gene expression signature that exhibited a higher predictive value for predicting COPD exacerbations after ICS withdrawal than sputum eosinophilia. Future studies should investigate the utility of this signature, which might enhance personalised ICS treatment in COPD patients.

Identifiers

PMID34235210
PMCPMC8255541
OpenAlexW3173200641

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.