A potential breakthrough treatment for asthma sufferers has been unveiled by British scientists.
Researchers have found that treating severely affected patients with bronchial thermoplasty, or specially-heated air fed into the lungs, leads to "significant" improvements.
During a year-long global trial, sufferers involved in the study showed a decrease in asthma attacks, a marked increase in days with no asthma symptoms, and a reduction in rescue medication use.
They also exhibited a general improvement in asthma-related quality of life.
More than 112 patients in four countries took part in the trial, which was led by a team from Glasgow University.
It monitored their asthma attacks, daily lung function, and rescue medication use over 12 months.
Treated patients experienced around 10 fewer asthma attacks per year, were free of their asthma symptoms an average of 86 additional days per year, and required significantly less rescue medication, doctors said.
Immediately after the trial finished, researchers found the patients reverted to their previous levels of breathlessness, wheezing and coughing.
The research was led by Glasgow University's professor of respiratory medicine, Neil Thomson, at the city's Gartnavel General hospital.
His findings have been published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine.
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