From the Guidelines
Triamcinolone can affect eosinophil levels by reducing them, as evidenced by studies on oral corticosteroids, which have shown that patients with elevated blood eosinophil counts respond better to treatment. Triamcinolone is a corticosteroid medication that works by suppressing inflammation and immune responses in the body. When administered, triamcinolone inhibits the production and activity of various inflammatory mediators, including those that attract and activate eosinophils. This leads to decreased eosinophil recruitment to tissues and reduced eosinophil survival, resulting in lower eosinophil counts in both blood and affected tissues. According to a study published in the European Respiratory Journal 1, patients with a blood eosinophil count of ≥2% had a greater improvement in health-related quality of life and faster recovery after receiving oral corticosteroids compared to placebo. Some key points to consider when using triamcinolone to reduce eosinophil levels include:
- The dose and duration of treatment may vary depending on the specific condition being treated and the individual patient's response to therapy
- Triamcinolone is available in several formulations, including inhalers, nasal sprays, topical creams, and injectable forms
- The eosinophil-reducing effect of triamcinolone typically begins within hours to days of starting treatment and continues throughout the duration of therapy
- Patients with elevated blood eosinophil counts may respond better to triamcinolone treatment, as suggested by studies on oral corticosteroids 1
From the Research
Effect of Triamcinolone on Eosinophil Levels
- Triamcinolone has been shown to decrease eosinophil blood counts and eosinophil cation protein (ECP) serum levels in patients with asthma 2.
- A study found that after treatment with triamcinolone, eosinophil blood counts significantly decreased from 277.4 to 187.2 cells/mm3 (p < 0.001) 2.
- Another study demonstrated that high-dose intramuscular triamcinolone almost completely eliminated sputum eosinophils in patients with severe asthma, with a median decrease from 12.6% to 0.2% (p < 0.001) 3.
- The effect of triamcinolone on eosinophil levels has also been observed in children with difficult asthma, where sputum eosinophils fell from 17.5% to 0% after treatment with triamcinolone (P = 0.054) 4.
Mechanism of Action
- Triamcinolone, a glucocorticoid, has anti-inflammatory properties that contribute to the inhibition of allergic inflammation by decreasing eosinophil blood counts and ECP 2.
- The reduction in eosinophil levels is associated with improved clinical parameters, such as decreased rescue medication score and improved FEV1 2, 3.
Clinical Implications
- The decrease in eosinophil levels after triamcinolone treatment suggests that this medication may be effective in managing eosinophilic asthma 2, 3.
- The use of triamcinolone and other systemic corticosteroids may be considered in patients with severe or persistent asthma who have elevated eosinophil levels 5, 6.