Objective: To describe a series of eight patients with long-term asthma and pulmonary
function consistent with “end-stage,” irreversible obstruction. Design: Retrospective
descriptive analysis of patients with severe asthma. Setting: A university-based allergy-
immunology service with a large population of corticosteroid-dependent patients with
asthma. Patients: Eight patients with long-standing asthma and apparently irreversible
airways obstruction despite long-term oral and inhaled corticosteroid therapy …