Case 2 Sem 2 Flashcards
what is asthma?
Inflammation of air passages in lungs, sensitive nerve endings in airways become easily irritated. In an attack, lining of air passages swell causing them to narrow, reducing flow of air in and out of lungs
Symptoms of asthma
Dysplasia, coughing, wheezing (varies over time), tightness of chest, feel worse at night (postural changes, triggers)
Status asthmatics
A state of unremitting attacks
Characteristics of asthma
Airflow limitation
Bronchial hyper responsiveness (easily triggered bronchospasm as a result of stimuli)
Inflammation of bronchi (T lymphocytes, mast cells, eosinophils (plasma exudation), oedema, smooth muscle hypertrophy, matrix disposition, mucus plugging and epithelial damage
Chronic asthma
Inflammation accompanied by irreversible airflow limitation as a result of airway wall remodelling
Atopic (extrinsic asthma)
Type 1 IgE mediated hypersensitivity reaction
Begins in childhood, triggered by environmental allergens
Family history of asthma
Family history of allergic rhinitis
Non atopic (intrinsic)
No causative agent
No evidence of allergen sensitisation
Skin test results are negative
Family history of asthma less common
Respiratory infections due to viruses are common triggers, hyper irritability of bronchial tree
Aspirin induced asthma
Aspirin sensitive asthma occurs with recurrent rhinitis and nasal polyps
Also experience urticaria
Aspirin inhibits cyclooxgenase pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism without affecting lipoxygenase route, thus tipping balance toward elaboration of the bronochonstrictor leukotrienes
Propranolol induced asthma
Sympatholytic non selective beta blocker (antagonist)
Treats hypertension, anxiety and panic
Sympatholytic (propranolol)
Inhibits post ganglionic functioning of sympathetic nervous system, achieved through blocking beta adrenergic receptors
Occupational asthma
Minute quantities of chemicals induce attack, usually occurs after repeated exposure
Indulge type 1 hypersensitivity reactions, direct release of bronchocontrictor substances
Clean hypothesis
Childhood exposure to germs and infections help the immune system to develop (immune system doesn’t overreact)
Cold air and exercise
Cold air is less humid than warm air, cools and drys epithelial cells, immune cells etc, precipitating attack. Usually occurs after exercise
Allergen induced asthma (atopic asthma)
1)Immediate asthma: airflow limitation starts within minutes of contact with allergen, max 15-20 minutes, subsides by 1 hour
2) dual and late phase reactions: follows immediate reaction, develop a prolonged and sustained airflow limitation which responds less well to inhalation of bronchodilators eg salbutamol
Initial sensitisation to inhaled allergens stimulates
Th2 cells
Th2 cells secrete
Cytokines that promote allergic inflammation and B cells to produce IgE and IL4, IL5, IL13
IL4
Stimulates production of IgE by B cells
IL5
Eosinophil chemotactic agent secreted by mast and epithelial cells, Th2
IL13
Stimulates mucus secretion from bronchial submucosal glands and promotes IgE production by B cells
Sensitisation
Fc part of IgE binds to FCER on mast cells/basophils, exposing its variable region (this IgE loading takes 10-15 days)
Mast cells are ready to work next time the allergen appears, causing an initial phase reaction and secondary reaction
Initial phase reaction
Upon stimulation, mast cells undergo degranulation, secreting preformed primary mediators (histamine, proteases, neutrophil chemotactic factor and eosinophil chemotactic factor)
Histamine effects
Vasodilation
Increase vascular permeability leading to partial edema
Spasmatogenic
Increase glandular secretions causing luminal obstruction (narrowing of lumen tract)
Protease effect
Further tissue damage, causing release of more inflammation mediators. Convert C3 and C5 into C3a and C5a which bind to receptors on mast cells,stimulating mast cells further
Spasmatogenic
Histamine receptors found on smooth muscle lining of various tracts. Histamine causes them to contract
Secondary reaction
Inflammation with recruitment of leukocytes
Upon stimulation, nucleus of mast cell activated leading to protein synthesis of cytokines (small soluble proteins released by mast cell and epithelial cells, act as signalling molecules, secondary mediators)
Second wave of mediators stimulates late reaction (eotaxin, MBP - major basic protein)
Mast cells secrete leukotrienes, attract neutrophils
Eosinophils secrete granular contents (histamines and enzymes that destroy leukotrienes, reducing attraction of neutrophils)
IL3
Chemotactic agent for eosinophil, secreted by mast and epithelial cells, Th2
Eotaxin
Produced by airway epithelial cells, potent chemoattractant and activator of eosinophils
MBP
Major basic protein of eosinophils causes epithelial damage and airway constriction
Mediators in asthmatic response
Leukotrienes C4, D4 and E4 (cause prolonged bronchoconstriction and increased vascular permeability, increased mucus secretion)
Acetylcholine (released from intrapulmonary motor nerves, cause airway smooth muscle constriction by directly stimulating muscarinic receptors)
Airway remodelling
- Hypertrophy and hyperplasia of bronchial smooth muscle (hyperplasia of helical bands of airway smooth muscle, smooth muscle alters in function to contract more easily and stay contracted because of change in actin myosin cross link cycling) allowing the airways to contract too much/too easily
- Epithelial injury in airways, loss of ciliated columnar cells into lumen. Metaplasia occurs with increase in number and activity of mucus secreting goblet cells
- Increased airway vascularity
- Increased subepithelial mucus gland hypertrophy/hyperplasia
- Overall thickening of airway wall
- Basement membrane thickened due to subepithelial fibrosis with deposition of types 3 and 5 collagen below true basement membrane
Bronchospasm
Airways contract too easily
Mast cells are present in
Perivascular tissue (connective tissue around vessels ), under mucosal lining of skin, respiratory tract, GI tract, urogenital tract. Well distributed, increasing chance of free antigen binding to loaded mast cell
Mast cells can be stimulated by
Cross linking of loaded IgE by multivalent antigens
C3a, C4a, C5a (mast cells have receptors for these)
Drugs: codine and morphine
Venoms eg bee sting
status asthmaticus
Most severe form, severe acute paroxysm (sudden attack) persists for days/weeks
Lungs overdistended because of overinflation, with small areas of atelectasis
Airflow obstruction so extreme may cause severe cyanosis and even death
Atelectasis
Partial or complete collapse of lung
Curshmann spirals
Spiral shaped mucus plugs containing shed epithelium resulting from mucus plugging in subepithelial mucous gland ducts which later are forced out, plugs in bronchioles
Morphology of asthma
Occlusion of bronchi and bronchioles by thick mucus plugs, eosinophils and Charcot Leydin crystals
Acute asthma attack lasts
Up to several hours
Charcot Leyden crystals
In sputum (atopic asthma)
Collections of crystalloid made up of eosinophil lysophospholipase binding protein (galectin 10)
Diagnosis of asthma
Compatible clinical history
FEV1 15% or more (and 200ml) increase following administration of bronchodilator/trial of corticosteroids
20% diurnal variation on 3 or more days in a week for 2 weeks on PEF diary
FEV1 15% decrease or more after 6 mins of exercise
Treatment of asthma
Bronchodilators (reverse broncospasm of immediate phase)
Anti inflammatory agents (inhibit or prevent inflammatory components of both phases)