Obstructive Airway Diseases

Question 1

Main three

Answer 1

asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis

Question 2

Characteristics of obstructive lung disease

Answer 2

Airflow limitation, reduced PEFR, reduced FEV1, possibly reduced FVC and FEV1/FVC < 70%

Question 3

Rare cause of emphysema

Answer 3

Alpha-1-antiprotease

Question 4

Definition of chronic bronchitis

Answer 4

Cough production of sputum most days in at least 3 consecutive months for 2 or more consecutive years

Question 5

Morphological changes in chronic bronchitis

Answer 5

More mucous glands, goblet cells in large airways. Goblet cells and inflammation and fibrosis in small airways

Question 6

Definition of emphysema

Answer 6

Increase beyond the normal in size of airspace either from dilatation or destruction of alveoli without obvious fibrosis

Question 7

Acinus

Answer 7

Terminal bronchioles and alveoli

Question 8

Centri-acinar emphysema

Answer 8

Most common, affects apical areas in pockets

Question 9

Pan-acinar emphysema

Answer 9

Affects whole lung

Question 10

Peri-acinar / bullosa emphysema

Answer 10

Blebs of holes in lungs at bottom of lung

Question 11

Pathogenesis of emphysema by smoking

Answer 11

Less anti elastases, more elastases and MQ, less repair mechanism leading to tissue destruction

Question 12

Reversible component of COPD

Answer 12

Smooth muscle tone and inflammation can be reduced. However in emphysema alveolar attachments are lost so no help

Question 13

Why does COPD cause hypoxaemia

Answer 13

Airway obstruction, reduced respiratory drive(get used to high CO2 in blood), loss of alveolar surface area, infection

Question 14

Chronic (hypoxic) cor pulmonale

Answer 14

Hypertrophy of right ventricle due to it having to work harder to get blood through pulmonary system due to vasoconstriction