Assessing small airway impairment in mild-to-moderate smoking asthmatic patients. Issue 4 (12th February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Contoli, Marco; Bellini, Federico; Morandi, Luca; Forini, Giacomo; Bianchi, Stefano; Gnesini, Giulia; Marku, Brunilda; Rabe, Klaus F.; Papi, Alberto
• Is Part Of: European respiratory journal. Volume 47:Issue 4(2016)
• Page Start: 1264
• Page End: 1267
• Publication Date: 2016-02-12
• Subjects: Respiratory organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Respiration -- Periodicals; 616.2
• DOI: 10.1183/13993003.01708-2015
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0903-1936

Abstract

Asthma is characterised by airway inflammation throughout the bronchial tree, including the small airways. In asthma, small airway alterations are associated with poor clinical outcomes [1]. Cigarette smoke is known to induce peripheral airway abnormalities, asthmatic smokers exhibit a more rapid lung function decline, experience more frequent exacerbations and are more likely to be uncontrolled, even when the disease is managed as recommended [2]. The mechanisms accounting for poor responses to treatment in smoking asthmatic patients are currently unclear, although low accessibility to inhaled medications in the peripheral airways is considered a limiting factor for the efficacy of such treatments [3]. Cigarette smoking enhances small airways impairment in asthmatic patients http://ow.ly/WWUky