Expert review of respiratory medicine
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Expert Rev Respir Med · Aug 2007
Constrictive bronchiolitis obliterans: the fibrotic airway disorder.
Constrictive bronchiolitis obliterans is an important respiratory illness because of its underlying irreversible fibrotic process, and is defined as concentric fibrosis in the bronchiolar submucosal layer with continual external circular scarring. The fibrotic and destructive nature of this lesion is the defining characteristic. Although patchy, the airway may become slit-like or obliterated from this fibrotic process, resulting in bronchiolitis obliterans. ⋯ Empirical treatment consists of corticosteroid and immunosuppressive agents. Antifibrotic agents may be successful in the future. This is generally a nonsteroid-responsive lesion and for disabling disease, lung transplantation can be a successful option.