Allergy
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Eosinophilic bronchitis is a common cause of chronic cough, which like asthma is characterized by sputum eosinophilia, but unlike asthma there is no variable airflow obstruction or airway hyperresponsiveness. We tested the hypothesis that the different airway function in patients with eosinophilic bronchitis and asthma could be caused by an imbalance in the production of bronchoconstrictor (LTC(4)) and bronchoprotective (prostaglandin E(2); PGE(2)) lipid mediators. ⋯ This data suggest that the difference in airway function observed in subjects with eosinophilic bronchitis and asthma could be due to differences in PGE(2) production in the airways.
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Comparative Study
Role of symptoms and lung function in determining asthma control in smokers with asthma.
Cigarette smoking in asthma increases the severity and accelerates the decline in lung function. The relative role of symptoms and lung function in determining asthma control in smokers with asthma is not known. ⋯ Asthma control is significantly worse in asthmatics who smoke compared with never-smokers, with all symptoms related to asthma control uniformly worse in smokers, independent of FEV(1).
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Specific IgE antibodies are often detected without any clinical manifestation of allergies. We aimed to analyse the predictivity of allergic sensitization for incident symptoms of allergic diseases in adults during a 10-year follow-up. ⋯ Allergic sensitization not only covers clinically apparent allergies, but indicates a prognostic factor for later allergies, even in adulthood.
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Asthma is the leading chronic disease among children in most industrialized countries. However, the evidence base on specific aspects of pediatric asthma, including therapeutic strategies, is limited and no recent international guidelines have focused exclusively on pediatric asthma. ⋯ This consensus report recommends strategies that include pharmacological treatment, allergen and trigger avoidance and asthma education. The report is part of the PRACTALL initiative, which is endorsed by both academies.