Canadian respiratory journal : journal of the Canadian Thoracic Society
-
Comparative Study
Clinical, physiological and radiological features of asthma with incomplete reversibility of airflow obstruction compared with those of COPD.
To compare clinical features, pulmonary function and high-resolution computed chest tomography (HRCT) findings of asthmatic patients with a component of incomplete reversibility of airflow obstruction (AIRAO) with those of patients with smoking-induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). ⋯ Asthma may lead to physiological features similar to COPD but may be distinguished by demonstrating a preserved DLCO and a higher ratio of airway to parenchymal abnormalities on HRCT scan.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Anti-inflammatory effects of salmeterol compared with beclomethasone in eosinophilic mild exacerbations of asthma: a randomized, placebo controlled trial.
Salmeterol is a potent long acting beta-agonist that is effective in relieving the symptoms and airflow limitation of asthma. ⋯ These results show that salmeterol improves the symptoms and airway function of patients with asthma, but has no effect on eosinophilic airway infiltration. These findings support current asthma guidelines, which recommend the initial use of inhaled steroid to maximize clinical improvement. While salmeterol also produces clinical improvement, it does not suppress sputum eosinophilia. The analysis of induced or spontaneous sputum for inflammatory indexes may be a valuable clinical test to guide the use of inhaled steroid and/or a long acting beta-agonist.
-
Two major factors are critical to the development of asthma: the individual's genetic background and the environment. The gene for asthma has not yet been identified. Thus, environmental factors appear to be the critical factors that can be controlled. ⋯ In terms of allergen avoidance, avoidance of indoor allergens, particularly house dust mite, cat and cockroach, have the greatest potential for benefit. Exposure to ETS in early life must be avoided. Asthma is a multifactorial disease, and complex interventions are likely to be required to decrease prevalence of this increasingly common disease.