Understanding Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

What is it?

Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (AERD), also known as Samter's Triad or Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Tract Disease (AERD), is a condition characterized by the combination of asthma, nasal polyps, and respiratory reactions to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin.

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Additional names

This group contains additional names:
- Samter's Triad
- Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Tract Disease
- AERD

Signs & symptoms

- Asthma: Persistent cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and respiratory distress.
- Nasal polyps: Noncancerous growths in the nasal passages that can cause congestion, runny nose, postnasal drip, and reduced sense of smell.
- Aspirin/NSAID sensitivity: Taking aspirin or NSAIDs can trigger respiratory symptoms such as asthma attacks, nasal congestion, and nasal polyp inflammation.

Diagnosis

- Medical history: The doctor will ask about your symptoms, including any respiratory reactions to aspirin or NSAIDs.
- Physical examination: The doctor may check for nasal polyps or signs of asthma.
- Aspirin challenge: This is a controlled test where a small dose of aspirin is given under medical supervision to monitor for any adverse reactions.
- Other tests: Lung function tests, allergy testing, and imaging studies may be performed to evaluate the severity and extent of the disease.

Treatment

- Medications: AERD is typically managed with a combination of medications, including:
- Corticosteroids: Nasal sprays or oral medications to reduce nasal polyps and inflammation.
- Leukotriene modifiers: Medications that help alleviate asthma symptoms and reduce nasal polyp formation.
- Mast cell stabilizers: Nasal sprays or eye drops that help prevent allergic reactions.
- Aspirin desensitization: Under medical supervision, a process of gradually increasing doses of aspirin is administered to increase tolerance and reduce reactions.
- Surgical intervention: In severe cases, where medical treatment is insufficient, surgery may be necessary to remove nasal polyps.
- Allergy management: Avoidance of aspirin and NSAIDs is recommended, and management of other allergies may help improve symptoms.

☝️ This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult with your physician before making any medical decision.

Learn more about our editorial process for content accuracy.

Source of Information - We analyze big data of more than 23 million patients de-identified medical records from the following sources:

National Institution of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ University of Illinois hospital