Asthma Flashcards
Type of asthma with negative skin tests to common inhalant allergens, normal serum IgE; adult-onset, usually with nasal polyps and aspirin-sensitivity, and more severe, persistent asthma
Nonatopic or intrinsic asthma
Peak age of onset of asthma
3 years
Cytokine released from epithelial cells in the respiratory tract of asthmatic patients that instructs dendritic cells to release chemokines that attract Th2 cells into the airways
Thymic stromal lymphopoietin
Cytokine released by Th2 cells associated with eosinophilic inflammation
IL-5
Cytokines (2) released by Th2 cells associated with increased IgE formation
IL-4 and IL-13
Trigger involved in thunderstorm asthma
Pollen grains
Most common triggers of acute severe asthma exacerbations
Upper respiratory tract viral infections (rhinovirus, RSV, and coronavirus)
A food preservative that may trigger asthma through the release of sulfur dioxide gas in the stomach
Metabisulfite
Complete recovery from occupational asthma usually occurs if the patient is removed from exposure within this duration of symptoms
6 months
A noninvasive test that is being used to measure eosinophilic airway inflammation
Exhaled NO (since it is reduced by ICS, may be used to test compliance with tx and demonstrating insufficient anti-inflammatory tx)
Diagnosis: flow-volume loop that shows a reduction in inspiratory as well as expiratory flow
Upper airway obstruction
Most common side effects of inhaled beta 2 agonists (2)
Tremors and palpitations
Most common side effect of anticholinergic bronchodilators
Dry mouth
These most common side effects of theophylline are due to phosphodiesterase inhibition (3)
Nausea, vomiting, and headache
Cardiac arrhythmias, epileptic seizures, and death may occur at high concentrations of theophylline due to antagonism of this receptor
Adenosine A1-receptor
Most effective controllers for asthma
Inhaled corticosteroids
Frequency of use of a reliever medication that indicates the need for regular controller therapy
More than 3x/week
Controller therapy of choice for all patients with asthma
Inhaled corticosteroids (given twice daily)
In asthma, complete resistance to corticosteroids is defined as failure to respond to this dose of prednisone
40 mg once daily over 2 weeks
Type of brittle asthma that shows a persistent pattern of variability and may require oral corticosteroids or, at times, continuous infusion of beta 2 agonists
Type I brittle asthma
Type of brittle asthma with normal or near-normal lung function but with unpredictable falls in lung function that may result in death
Type II brittle asthma
Most effective therapy for type II brittle asthma
Subcutaneous epinephrine
Patients with aspirin-sensitive asthma have a functional polymorphism of this enzyme
Cys-leukotriene C synthase
Treatment warranted in bronchopulmonary aspergillosis when worsening signs/symptoms or pulmonary shadowing is found
Oral corticosteroids
Treatment that is beneficial in preventing exacerbations in bronchopulmonary aspergillosis
Itraconazole
