Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (AERD)
AERD is a chronic inflammatory disorder that consists of asthma, recurrent nasal polyps, and reactions to aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Who has AERD?
Between 1.2 million to 1.6 million people in the United States
(many are still not diagnosed)7% of adults with asthma
14% of adults with severe asthma
30% of adults with both asthma and nasal polyps
September 26 is AERD Awareness day
The Samter’s Society, a patient advocacy group, creates awareness each year by:
Coordinating a Q&A session with practicing medical AERD experts
Creating resources for AERD patients
Developing social media communications
Selling AERD Awareness Day T-shirts and fundraising to support three AERD groups in the United States that are dedicated to learning more about AERD, improving treatment options, and supporting patient advocacy efforts:
Brigham & Women's AERD Center
Penn Medicine AERD Center
Scripps AERD Clinic
You can make a difference
Learn about AERD
Let your friends and family know about it (our disease often goes undiagnosed)
Buy one of our T-shirts or donate during our annual campaign (all profits are split between the three AERD centers)
If you think you have AERD, join our Facebook support community
Learn more
Tanya M. Laidlaw, MD, Director of the AERD Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), explains how AERD patients are evaluated, diagnosed and desensitized to aspirin and related medications. Dr. Laidlaw also describes ongoing clinical trials at BWH evaluating new approaches to managing AERD symptoms including the use of anti-platelet medications and dietary modifications.
Note: Since this video was published in 2015, additional treatments have become available. Speak with your doctor to learn more.
Read our stories
Mary Justice
Mom | Nurse | AERD Warrior
Written January 14, 2020
It is such a relief to finally know my symptoms have a name, and I’m glad I found this group. I have been a nurse over 30 years with a PhD in health promotion. Sad to say I had never heard of AERD until I went to an otolaryngologist last week, who mentioned Samter’s triad.
There needs to be more awareness in the health care community. No doctor until my current one has ever put my symptoms together. My asthma symptoms started in my 30’s and I had 2 polyp surgeries in my 40’s. I discovered my NSAID sensitivity in my 40’s; I never had this allergy when I was younger.
I didn’t understand why I had sneezing fits after red wine, and shortness of breath after using toothpaste! I have complete loss of smell other than short periods after taking prednisone. I have mild allergies, but they were not seasonal, and shots didn’t help my symptoms. Still, I took allergy shots every week for YEARS afraid it would be worse without them. My symptoms became worse when I was not taking Singular. It all points to AERD and I am just now finding out. Thanks for all the posts and great information here.
August 1, 2020 Update: With the right treatments for me, I have regained my sense of smell. Life is so much better being able to breathe better and smell!
Ray Young
Dad | Fisherman | Family Man | AERD Warrior
Written August 2, 2020
Receiving a diagnosis has been the most comforting thing to me since 2007. I now have the opportunity to do the things I used to be able to enjoy years ago without being uncomfortable and having trouble breathing in my home of Florida.
Daily life for me was not always easy with my sinuses being 80% compacted with Nasal Polyps, constant Rhinosinusitis and uncontrolled severe persistent asthma. In 2007, I was 22 years old and was unable to breathe properly. I was sent to an ENT specialist.
Since 2007 until 2019, I have had 5 sinus surgeries. Unfortunately, the polyps continued to grow back, and my breathing continued to plummet. I had the EVAC at my house at least three to four times a month at all hours of the night because my oxygen SAT would be in the lower 80’s and I knew that was not good.
I was hospitalized in July 2019 for 13 days at our local hospital. I was placed into ICU with a BiPap to help my lungs allow me to breathe while Doctors collaborated to determine the cause of the constant Bronchitis and Pneumonia with low resting oxygen saturation.
I was released with no other diagnosis then just being “asthma related.” As a 34-year-old family man, I was put on home oxygen for over 8 months. I could no longer go to Publix where I had worked for 18 years in the Meat Department.
My fiancée, having been in communication with my local pulmonologist and nurses, made a call to the Mayo Clinic Jacksonville. My first appointment at Mayo Clinic was July 25, 2019. Since then I have had 5 doctors, including pulmonary, allergy, sleep, cardiology and rheumatology with 62 appointments and growing.
I have been desensitized to aspirin, had two other sinus surgeries and multiple complications along the way. My Allergist and I agreed to discontinue the daily dose Aspirin and try Dupixent which has been the most positive thing for my health since 2007.
Finally, at the age of 35 I have been able to get my life back. It just so happens that AERD Awareness Day on September 26, 2020 is the day I will be marrying my fiancée who has been there for almost every surgery, hospitalization, and doctor appointment. She continues to manage my health along with balancing out my boys’ busy lives.
Maria Bassett
Homeschool Mom | Teacher | Writer | AERD Warrior
Written July 31, 2020
I was diagnosed with AERD 7 years ago after suffering symptoms for four years prior. Since then I’ve had three sinus surgeries, been desensitized to aspirin and daily use four medications to manage the disease.
I had four children before my diagnosis. Many medical professionals watched the disease develop but never knew what was happening. I feel like I missed my children’s early years. I couldn’t smell their baby smell and all my memories are tainted with constant horrible headaches and an aching body.
The first ENT I saw missed the diagnosis. I learned about AERD when I searched my symptoms online. Then, about a year later, I was diagnosed by an allergist who sadly did not have accurate information on treatments to manage the disease. Following my first surgery I started on my quest to find treatment from doctors who knew my disease.
I planned an entire family road trip around getting to Boston to see Dr. Laidlaw at Brigham AERD Center. For the first time I felt like there was hope and treatment options to help. Since then I have found expert care at Vanderbilt from Dr. Cahill, who was also originally in Boston. She helped me find a fabulous ENT in Atlanta at Emory and an allergist local to me who know AERD.
Having medical care from doctors who understand this disease makes all the difference. I can follow their directions with confidence, and I can be part of a solution for future AERD patients as these physicians learn more and come up with better and better answers. Finding knowledgeable medical care is the single most important thing an AERD patient can do for themselves.
2022 Awareness Day Q&A with Dr. White
This is one of a series of videos with AERD experts from AERD Awareness Day events. You can check out other videos on our Samter’s Society YouTube page.
The Samter's Society is a community for those affected by Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (AERD), also called Samter's Triad. This group is dedicated to raising awareness of Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease and helping patients find resources to manage the disease.