New insights into the pathophysiology of the small airways in asthma
Asthma is a lung disease characterized by inflammation and remodeling of the airways, which leads to airflow obstruction and symptoms of wheeze, chest tightness, cough and dyspnea. It is now widely accepted that airway inflammation and remodeling occur not only in the central airways but also in the...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2007-01-01
|
| Series: | Annals of Thoracic Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.thoracicmedicine.org/article.asp?issn=1817-1737;year=2007;volume=2;issue=1;spage=28;epage=33;aulast=Hamid |
| _version_ | 1819264689385766912 |
|---|---|
| author | Hamid Qutayba Tulic Meri |
| author_facet | Hamid Qutayba Tulic Meri |
| author_sort | Hamid Qutayba |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Asthma is a lung disease characterized by inflammation and remodeling of the airways, which leads to airflow obstruction and symptoms of wheeze, chest tightness, cough and dyspnea. It is now widely accepted that airway inflammation and remodeling occur not only in the central airways but also in the small airways and even in the lung parenchyma. Inflammation of the distal lung can be observed even in mild asthmatics with normal or noncompromised lung function. Moreover, the small airways and the lung parenchyma can produce many Th2 cytokines and chemokines involved in initiation and perpetuation of the inflammatory process. In addition, the distal parts of the lung have been recognized as a predominant site of airflow obstruction in asthmatics. In fact, the inflammation at this distal site has been described as more severe when compared to the large airway inflammation, and evidence of remodeling in the lung periphery is emerging. Recognition of asthma as a disease of the entire respiratory tract has an important clinical significance, highlighting the need to also consider the distal lung as a target in any therapeutic strategy for effective treatment of this disease. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T20:33:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c6450c0e4f6945a0b60be0dc6231e2b6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1817-1737 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T20:33:28Z |
| publishDate | 2007-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Annals of Thoracic Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-c6450c0e4f6945a0b60be0dc6231e2b62022-12-21T17:32:10ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsAnnals of Thoracic Medicine1817-17372007-01-01212833New insights into the pathophysiology of the small airways in asthmaHamid QutaybaTulic MeriAsthma is a lung disease characterized by inflammation and remodeling of the airways, which leads to airflow obstruction and symptoms of wheeze, chest tightness, cough and dyspnea. It is now widely accepted that airway inflammation and remodeling occur not only in the central airways but also in the small airways and even in the lung parenchyma. Inflammation of the distal lung can be observed even in mild asthmatics with normal or noncompromised lung function. Moreover, the small airways and the lung parenchyma can produce many Th2 cytokines and chemokines involved in initiation and perpetuation of the inflammatory process. In addition, the distal parts of the lung have been recognized as a predominant site of airflow obstruction in asthmatics. In fact, the inflammation at this distal site has been described as more severe when compared to the large airway inflammation, and evidence of remodeling in the lung periphery is emerging. Recognition of asthma as a disease of the entire respiratory tract has an important clinical significance, highlighting the need to also consider the distal lung as a target in any therapeutic strategy for effective treatment of this disease.http://www.thoracicmedicine.org/article.asp?issn=1817-1737;year=2007;volume=2;issue=1;spage=28;epage=33;aulast=HamidAllergic inflammationasthmadistal airwaysparenchyma |
| spellingShingle | Hamid Qutayba Tulic Meri New insights into the pathophysiology of the small airways in asthma Annals of Thoracic Medicine Allergic inflammation asthma distal airways parenchyma |
| title | New insights into the pathophysiology of the small airways in asthma |
| title_full | New insights into the pathophysiology of the small airways in asthma |
| title_fullStr | New insights into the pathophysiology of the small airways in asthma |
| title_full_unstemmed | New insights into the pathophysiology of the small airways in asthma |
| title_short | New insights into the pathophysiology of the small airways in asthma |
| title_sort | new insights into the pathophysiology of the small airways in asthma |
| topic | Allergic inflammation asthma distal airways parenchyma |
| url | http://www.thoracicmedicine.org/article.asp?issn=1817-1737;year=2007;volume=2;issue=1;spage=28;epage=33;aulast=Hamid |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hamidqutayba newinsightsintothepathophysiologyofthesmallairwaysinasthma AT tulicmeri newinsightsintothepathophysiologyofthesmallairwaysinasthma |