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A simple blood test could make asthma treatment more precise, more effective – and potentially more affordable. Researchers from Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences (KL Krems) and the Medical University of Vienna (MedUni Vienna) have developed a molecular allergy chip that detects allergic asthma in individual patients. Applied to samples from the large-scale LEAD cohort, the test showed that more than 70% of participants with asthma had sensitization to specific airborne allergens. For these patients, a proven, targeted therapy already exists: allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT). The findings pave the way for more personalized treatment strategies, allowing physicians to go beyond symptom control and offer a disease-modifying option.
Asthma affects roughly 300 million people worldwide and ranks among the most burdensome chronic lung diseases. Despite substantial advances in medicine, most patients still receive uniform symptomatic treatment: inhaled corticosteroids and bronchodilators. In recent years, expensive biologics have been added for selected cases, raising concerns about the sustainability of asthma care. Yet for allergic asthma – the most common form – a well-established and cost-effective option exists: allergen-specific immunotherapy. What has been lacking is a practical, accurate way to identify who stands to benefit. The newly developed asthma chip offers exactly that.
Developed by Dr. Huey-Jy Huang and colleagues at the Scientific Working Group Allergology and Immunology at KL Krems, in collaboration with MedUni Vienna and others, the chip contains 63 allergen molecules from key airborne sources such as pollens, dust mites, molds and animal dander. When tested with serum samples from 436 asthma patients in the LEAD study (Lung, hEart, sociAl, boDy), the chip identified specific IgE sensitizations in more than 70% of cases. These individuals had allergic asthma — and showed clinical characteristics that clearly distinguished them from non-allergic patients: younger age, better lung function, and less reliance on corticosteroids, despite fewer signs of inflammation.
“These results show that a large share of asthma adult patients has allergic asthma – and that we can identify them quickly and precisely,” says Prof. Rudolf Valenta from the MedUni Vienna, head of the Scientific Working Group Allergology and Immunology at KL Krems and senior co-author of the study. “This is important because allergic asthma can be treated causally, not just symptomatically – using allergen-specific immunotherapy.” AIT is a well-established approach in allergy medicine. It works by gradually desensitizing the immune system to the specific allergens causing symptoms. When based on precise diagnosis, it can significantly reduce exacerbations and improve long-term outcomes.
Unlike conventional extract-based tests, the chip uses purified allergen molecules. This enables clear distinction between true sensitizations and cross-reactions – a key requirement for successful immunotherapy. The method supports individualised treatment decisions and could be particularly valuable in younger patients, where early intervention can alter the course of the disease.
With the prevalence of asthma rising and healthcare systems under financial pressure, tools that help allocate treatments more precisely are urgently needed. “We hope this diagnostic approach will find its way into routine clinical practice,” says Prof. Valenta. “It could allow many patients to benefit from an effective, affordable form of immunotherapy – and help reduce unnecessary use of costly biologics.” The study demonstrates how integrating molecular diagnostics into asthma care could help shift the current paradigm – from blanket symptom management to tailored, evidence-based strategies.
The Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences (KL Krems) is an educational and research institution on the Campus Krems and recognised throughout Europe. KL Krems offers modern, demand-oriented education and continuing education in medicine and psychology as well as a PhD programme in Mental Health and Neuroscience.
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