Obstructive Lung Diseases Flashcards
What causes asthma
Chronic inflammation
Is airflow limitation variable in asthma or COPD
Asthma
Asthma symptoms
Wheeze
Shortness of breath
Chest tightness
Cough
What limits airflow in asthma
Narrowed airways from chronic inflammation
How does chronic inflammation impact airways
Thickening basement membrane
Airway smooth muscle hypertrophy
Leukocyte infiltration
Goblet cell hyperplasia
Mucus hypersecretion
Which type of cells are central in asthma pathology
TH2
What molecules do allergens activate in asthma pathology
Sensitised mast cells
Which bronchoconstrictor mediators are released by sensitised mast cells when allergens bind to them
Histamine
Cysteinyl leukotrienes
Prostaglandin D2
What do TH2 cells do in asthma pathology
Release inflammatory mediators
What inflammatory mediators are released by TH2 cells in asthma pathology
IL-4
IL-5
IL-9
IL-13
Types of asthma
Allergic asthma
Exercise induced asthma
Late onset eosinophilic asthma
Very late onset asthma
Obesity associated asthma
Smoking related neutrophilic asthma
Smooth muscle mediated paucigranulocytic asthma
Does T2 type asthma usually appear in childhood or adulthood
Childhood
Does non t2 type asthma usually appear in childhood or adulthood
Adulthood
What can cause variation in asthma symptoms
Time of day
Season
Environment
Why is predictive value of isolated asthma signs and symptoms poor
Symptoms are not specific to asthma
Wheeze
Continuous high pitch musical sound coming from chest
What is involved in asthma diagnosis
Previous medical history
Current medical history
Lung function tests
What symptoms on assessment suggest possible asthma
Wheeze
Cough
Breathlessness
Chest tightness
What characteristics from history suggest possible asthma
Recurrent symptom episodes
Symptom variability
Absence of alternative diagnosis symptoms
Recorded observation of wheeze
History of atopy
Historical variable PEF or FEV1
Which patients would be sent for tests to confirm asthma
Intermediate probability patients
How does badly managed asthma effect spirometry
Decr FEV1 and FVC
Does the upper portion of a flow volume graph show inspiration or expiration
Expiration
How does the flow volume graph of an asthma patient and person without asthma differ
Asthma causes scalloped line during expiration due to reduced flow rate
Why does asthma decrease flow rate
Small airways collapse
What spirometry result indicates asthma
Obstructive spirometry with positive bronchodilator reversibility, although spirometry may be normal in asymptomatic patients
How many PEF attempts are used to calculate a value
3
How much variability in PEF and FEV1 suggests asthma
20%+ PEF
12%FEV1
How does PEF change in asthma exacerbation
Decrease