Asthma

Question 1

What is Asthma?

Answer 1

The disease is characterized by increased responsiveness of the airways various stimuli and is manifested by widespread narrowing of the airways that changes in severity, either spontaneously or as a result of treatment

Question 2

What happens to the airways during an asthma attack?

Answer 2

The airways have hypertrophied smooth muscle that contracts during an attack causing bronchoconstriction

Question 3

What is the state of the lung parenchyma in asthmatics?

Answer 3

There is also hypertrophy of mucous glands, edema of the bronchial wall, and infiltration by eosinophils and lymphocytes

Question 4

Besides the bronchoconstriction what is another major source of airway blockage in asthmatics?

Answer 4

The abnormally thick and increased amounts of mucous which can form mucous plugs

Question 5

WHat is remodeling in Asthmatics?

Answer 5

Subepithelial fibrosis that is commonly seen chronic asthma patients

Question 6

What does a purulent appearance in sputum of asthma patients suggest?

Answer 6

An abundance of eosinophils NOT infection.

Question 7

What are the two features common to Asthmatics?

Answer 7

Airway hyperresponsiveness and airway inflammation

Question 8

What are the cytokines that play a role in Asthma?

Answer 8

Those particularly associated with Th-2 activation IL-4, IL-5, IL-9, and IL-13

Question 9

What are the inflammatory mediators that play a role in Asthma?

Answer 9

• Arachidonic acid metabolites
• Leukotrienes
• Prostaglandins
• Platelet-activating factor
• neuropeptides
• ROS
• kinins
• histamine
• Adenosine