Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Chung, K. F.
Right arrow Articles by Durham, S. R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Chung, K. F.
Right arrow Articles by Durham, S. R.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

British Medical Bulletin 48:179-189 (1992)
© 1992 The British Council

research-article

Asthma as an inflammatory disease: Clinical perspectives

K. F. Chung and S. R. Durham

Department of Thoracic Medicine, National Heart & Lung Institute, Royal Brompton National Heart & Lung Hospital London, UK
Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, National Heart & Lung Institute, Royal Brompton National Heart & Lung Hospital London, UK

Abstract

Asthma is characterised by a persistent, ongoing airway submucosal inflammatory process which may underlie bronchial hyperresponsiveness and airways obstruction. Indirect assessment of airway inflammation includes examination of sputum or serum for eosinophils or eosinophil-derived products, but examination of bronchial mucosal biopsies or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid or cells remains the gold standard. Lymphocyte and eosinophil activation, with the release of certain cytokines such as interleukin-5, lipid mediators such as leukotrienes and eosinophil products such as major basic protein, may be important mechanisms of inflammation in asthma. Less invasive indirect measures of submucosal inflammation are needed to assess the impact of asthma treatment in the clinic. Antiinflammatory treatment in asthma should be introduced as early as possible. A greater understanding of the inflammatory mechanism or of the actions of corticosteroids may lead to the development of more effective and safer drugs for asthma.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?




Disclaimer:
Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.