Cardio Respiratory - Week 5 Asthma and GINA

Question 1

What is asthma? (4)

Answer 1

Chronic inflammatory airways disease
Airway hyper-responsiveness
Variable expiratory airflow obstruction
Respiratory symptoms (e.g., wheeze, shortness of breath, cough etc.)

Question 2

What are allergen-induced (atopic) triggers of asthma? (4)

Answer 2

Aeroallergen (pollen)
House dust
Animal hair
Mold

Question 3

What are non-allergen-induced triggers of asthma? (5)

Answer 3

Cold air
Exercise
Smoking
Infection
Medication

Question 4

What are the genetic triggers of asthma? (1)

Answer 4

ADAM33 gene is associated with increased risk of asthma and increased hyper responsiveness

Question 5

What are the inflammatory cells and mediators that contribute to bronchial constriction and eosinophilic constriction (6)

Answer 5

Allergen inhaled

Mast cells lead to bronchial constriction through release of histamines, prostaglandins etc

Th2 cells release various cytokines which contribute to bronchoconstriction

IL-4 and IL-3 stimulate beta-cells to produce IgE which cross links with mast cells

IL-9 increase mast cell proliferation

Other cytokines (IL-5) - necessary of eosinophilic inflammation