Biomaterial Database

The pathophysiology of small airway inflammation in asthma. 2003

Thomas B Casale

Center for Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68131, USA. tbcasale@creighton.edu

Histologic and imaging studies show that asthmatic inflammation occurs in small airways of the peripheral lung, even in patients with mild disease. Small airway inflammation leads to obstruction that can be detected as peripheral resistance, air trapping, and eosinophil infiltration and is manifested clinically as nocturnal asthma and frequent exacerbations. Inflammatory activity in the distal lung of patients may actually exceed that of the large airways. Anatomic changes in small airways are prominent in cases of fatal asthma.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D001988	Bronchiolitis	Inflammation of the BRONCHIOLES.	Bronchiolitides
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000403	Airway Resistance	Physiologically, the opposition to flow of air caused by the forces of friction. As a part of pulmonary function testing, it is the ratio of driving pressure to the rate of air flow.	Airway Resistances,Resistance, Airway,Resistances, Airway
D001249	Asthma	A form of bronchial disorder with three distinct components: airway hyper-responsiveness (RESPIRATORY HYPERSENSITIVITY), airway INFLAMMATION, and intermittent AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION. It is characterized by spasmodic contraction of airway smooth muscle, WHEEZING, and dyspnea (DYSPNEA, PAROXYSMAL).	Asthma, Bronchial,Bronchial Asthma,Asthmas
D055745	Bronchioles	The small airways branching off the TERTIARY BRONCHI. Terminal bronchioles lead into several orders of respiratory bronchioles which in turn lead into alveolar ducts and then into PULMONARY ALVEOLI.	Bronchiole,Respiratory Bronchioles,Terminal Bronchioles,Bronchiole, Respiratory,Bronchiole, Terminal,Bronchioles, Respiratory,Bronchioles, Terminal,Respiratory Bronchiole,Terminal Bronchiole