05.3 Asthma

Question 1

What are the 5 defining characteristics of asthma?

Answer 1

Chronic inflammatory process
Susceptibility
Variable airflow obstruction
Airway hyper-responsiveness
Reversibility

Question 2

What type of antibody is produced in an asthma attack?

Answer 2

IgE

Question 3

What type of immune cell is seen in high numbers in someone with asthma?

Answer 3

Eosinophils

Question 4

In asthma, what causes airway narrowing?

Answer 4

Mucosal swelling (oedema)
Thickening of bronchial walls due to inflammatory cell infiltration
Mucus over production
Smooth muscle contraction
Epithelium shed into the mucus making it thick

Question 5

In asthma, what pattern is seen on spirometry?

Answer 5

Decreased FEV/FVC ratio

Reversibility

Question 6

What happens to the VQ ratio in asthma?

Answer 6

Mismatch

Hyperperfusion of better ventilated areas cannot compensate for the hypoxia but may compensate for the hypercapnia

Question 7

What type of respiratory failure is asthma?

Answer 7

Mild - moderate = type 1

Severe = type 2

Question 8

What can trigger a severe asthma attack?

Answer 8

Cold air
Allergens
Animals
Exercise
Chemicals

Question 9

What is treatment of asthma?

Answer 9

B2 agonists

Steroids

Question 10

What is asthma?

Answer 10

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways. In susceptible individuals, inflammatory symptoms are usually associated with widespread but variable airflow obstruction and an increase in airway responsiveness to a variety of stimuli. Obstruction is often reversible, spontaneously or with treatment.