Synonyms
Bronchial asthma
Definition
The working definition of asthma taken from the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program Expert Panel Report 3: “Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways in which many cells and cellular elements play a role: in particular, mast cells, eosinophils, neutrophils (especially in sudden onset, fatal exacerbations, occupational asthma, and patients who smoke), T lymphocytes, macrophages, and epithelial cells. In susceptible individuals, this inflammation causes recurrent episodes of coughing (particularly at night or early in the morning), wheezing, breathlessness, and chest tightness. These episodes are usually associated with widespread but variable airflow obstruction that is often reversible either spontaneously or with treatment” (Busse et al. 2007).
Immunomodulator Therapy
The standard therapy for the treatment of bronchial asthma is the use of inhaled corticosteroids in association with a short acting bronchodilator, as the...
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References
Busse WW, Boushey HA, et al. National Asthma Education and Prevention Program. Expert panel report 3. Guidlines for the diagnosis and management of asthma. NIH Publication Number 08-5846 (2007). http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/asthma/asthgdln.pdf. Retrieved Oct 2007.
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Weiler, C.R. (2014). Immunomodulator Therapy of Asthma. In: Mackay, I.R., Rose, N.R., Ledford, D.K., Lockey, R.F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Medical Immunology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9194-1_533
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