Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - Asthma Flashcards
a REVERSIBLE obstructive lung disease caused by increased reaction of the airways to various stimuli or triggers
asthma
Chronic inflammatory disease with acute exacerbations or flare ups
triggers of asthma
infections
viruses such as colds
cigarette smoke
allergens
pollutants
cold air
changes in temperature,
excitement or stress and exercise.
pathogenesis of asthma
- No single pathognomonic factor but multiple contributing factors:
- Inflammatory cell infiltration with eosinophils, neutrophils and lymphocytes (specifically T-lymphocytes)
- Goblet cell hyperplasia
- Plugging of small airways with thick mucus
- Hypertrophy of smooth muscle
- Airway edema
- Mast cell activation
strongest identifiable predisposing factor for development of asthma is ?
atopy
other risk factors of asthma
obestiy
GERD
rsp irritants
viruses
stress
pollutants
Aspirin, NSAIDs, BBs
FHx
exercise
URIs
enivornment
when does asthma MC begin?
1-5 years - 51.4%
types of asthma
- extrinsic -allergic
- intrinsic - uncommon
- mixed - combo of ex and in
- occuptional
- drug-induced - NSAIDs, ASA
- exercise
- cough variant - common, esp in children
diagnostic approach for asthma
- Clinical Suspicion!
- Hx with focus on symptom patterns
- PE - Signs of allergies and asthma
- Confirm diagnosis with objective measure of pulmonary function (spirometry)
- Allergy testing
- Clinical response
symptoms of asthma
Cough
Chest tightness
SOB / Dyspnea
Difficulty Breathing
Episodic wheezing
Frequency is variable!
signs/general PE of asthma
- nasal secretion, mucosal swelling, and/or nasal polyps
- atopy / allergic rhinitis - conjunctival congestion, ocular shiners, salute sign
- Wheezing or prolonged expiratory phase, hyperexpansion of thorax, use of accessory muscles, appearance of hunched shoulders
- Atopic dermatitis or eczema
what does a focused lung exam of asthma consist of?
- Inspection
- Shape
— Hyperinflated - severe asthma
- Movement of chest
— Silent - life threatening
— Retractions? - Palpation
- Normal chest expansion may be reduced (hyperinflated)
- Tactile fremitus - may be decreased - Percussion
- Normal to Hyperresonant - Auscultation
- Rhonchi to wheeze (usually expiratory but may be inspiratory as well)
- Prolonged expiratory phase
- Silent chest - severe asthma
diagnostic testing + criteria for asthma
spirometry - showing reversible airway obstruction
- reduced FEV1/FVC AND increase FEV1 after BD or course of controller therpay
criteria:
1. > 6y/o - <LLN + >12%
2. adults - <LLN + >12% + >200mL
adjunct testing for asthma besides PFT
- Bronchoprovocation Testing
- Exercise Challenge
- Peak Flow Meters
- CXR
- Skin Testing
- Measurement of sputum for eosinophils
used If spirometry is nondiagnostic
Use of inhaled histamine, methacholine, or mannitol
what is this testing
bronchoprovocation testing
bronchoprovocation testing is NOT recommended for who?
FEV1 <65% of predicted
indications for CXR for asthma
initial asthma diagnosis or diagnosis uncertain
Low yield in acute asthma exacerbations
Status Asthmaticus or no improvement in acute asthma attack
CXR findings of asthma
Normal to hyperinflation
labs for asthma
- ABGs
- Hypoxemia
- Hypercarbia (or normal CO2) with decompensation - CBC
- Eosinophilia may be present
- Increased levels of IgE may be present - Sputum sample
- May show casts of small airways
- Thick, mucoid sputum
- Curschmann’s spirals
- Charcot-Leyden crystals
Most common bronchoprovocation test in US
Patients breathe in increasing amounts of methacholine and perform spirometry after each dose
Methacholine Challenge
diagnostic of Methacholine Challenge
Increased airway hyperresponsiveness with a ≥ 20% decrease in FEV1 up to 16 mg/mL max dose
asthma vs COPD
- Asthma
- Onset early in life - childhood
- sx vary from day to day
- sx at night / early morning
- Allergy / Rhinitis / and / or eczema also present
- Family history of asthma
- Largely reversible airflow limitation - COPD
- Onset in mid-life
- Symptoms slowly progressive
- Long smoking history
- Dyspnea during exercise
- Largely irreversible airflow limitation
golden rule of asthma
All that wheezes is not asthma!!
Pulmonary edema
Pulmonary embolism
Anaphylactic reaction
COPD
Pneumonia
Foreign body aspiration
Cystic fibrosis
complications with asthma
Exhaustion
Dehydration
Airway infection (pneumonia)
Tussive syncope
Pneumothorax
Respiratory Failure
Chronic lung disease
Daytime asthma sx occurring ≤2 d per wk
≤2 night awakenings per month
Uses SABA/rescue inhaler <2x per wk
No interference with normal activities between exacerbations
FEV1 ≥ 80% predicted value
FEV1/FVC ratio between exacerbations is normal
0-1 exacerbations requiring oral glucocorticoids per year
what is this classification
mild intermittment
Sx >2 weekly (less than daily)
3-4 night-time awakenings per month (but fewer than every week)
Use of SABA to relieve sx >2x a wk (but not daily)
Minor interference with normal activities
FEV1 measurements within normal range and normal FEV1/FVC ratio
2 or more exacerbations requiring oral glucocorticoids per year
what is this classification
mild persistent
Daily symptoms of asthma
Nighttime awakenings more than once per week
Daily need for SABA for symptom relief
Some limitation in normal activity
FEV1 between 60-80% of predicted and FEV1/FVC below normal
what is this classification
moderate persistent
Symptoms of asthma throughout the day
Night-time awakenings nightly
Need for SABA for symptom relief several times per day
Extreme limitation in normal activity
FEV1 ≤ 60% predicted and FEV1/FEC below normal
what is this classification
severe persistent
goals for asthma management
Minimal or no chronic symptoms in the day, night, or after exertion
Minimal to no exacerbations
No limitations on activities
Maintain near normal pulmonary function
Minimal use of rescue inhaler (less than or equal to 2 times a week)
Minimal or no adverse effects of medications
“Rescue Inhalers” and used as initial tx in intermittent asthma but every asthmatic should have one.
SABA
Should be given to ANYONE diagnosed or experiencing asthma sx
“Don’t Leave Home Without It”
MOA of SABA
Work to relax the smooth muscle of the airway and cause prompt increase in airflow and decrease in symptoms
Preferred long-term controller in lowest doses possible to control asthma
ICS
budesonide
ICS