obstructive airway diseases Flashcards
what are 3 obstructive airway diseases ?
chronic bronchitis
emphysema
asthma
what are chronic bronchitis and emphysema known as ?
COPD
what is the pathological definition of emphysema?
beyond normal increase in the size of airspaces distal to bronchioles arising from dilation or distraction of walls without obvious fibrosis
what’s the most common type of emphysema?
centriacinar
what is the aetiology for chronic bronchitis and emphysema?
most common smoking
can also be due to pollution and age
most prevalent in men and developing countries
what is alpha-1-antiprotease (antitripsyn) deficiency ?
really rare cause of emphysema
as well as spirometry how could obstructive airway decease be demonstrated?
PEFR (peak respiratory flow rate)
what are the normal values for a PEFR?
400-600L/min
80-100% of best value is normal
50-80% is a moderate fall
<50% fall
what symptoms can be clinically seen in obstructive lung disease?
airflow limitation
PEFR is low
FEV1 is low
FEV1/FVC less than 70%
how can bronchial asthma be reversed?
spontaneously or by medical intervention eg. inhaler
what is the clinical definition of chronic bronchitis?
cough producing sputum most days in at least 3 consecutive months for 2 or more consecutive years
what is meant by complicated chronic bronchitis ?
when sputum becomes mucopurulent by becoming infected and green/yellow
what are morphological changes caused by chronic bronchitis?
in large airways- mucous gland hyperplasia, goblet cell hyperplasia, sometimes inflammation and fibrosis
in small airways (bronchi/bronchioles)- goblet cells appear, inflammation and fibrosis
what’s the difference between centiacinar and panacinar emphysema?
centriacinar emphysema takes out large area of lung rather than individual, panacinar is more common in lower parts of the lung
what two types of emphysema may cause a spontaneous pneumothorax?
periacina and scar
