Pulmonary disorder - Asthma

Question 1

what is asthma?

Answer 1

chronic inflammatory disease

Question 2

what is asthma characterized by?

Answer 2

bronchial hyperreactivity, airway constriction, variable airway obstruction that is reversible

Question 3

how many genes have been identified that play a role in asthma?

Answer 3

over 100 genes

Question 4

what are the symptoms of asthma?

Answer 4

wheeze, shortness of breath, chest tightness and cough

Question 5

what are the two responses to airway epithelial exposure?

Answer 5

early and late asthmatic response

Question 6

what does antigen exposure to the bronchial mucosa activate in the early asthmatic response? what do these cells then do? what occurs as a result? what kind of antibodies are produced?

Answer 6

dendritic cells, activate helper t cells, which activate B cells and make them produce IgE antibodies

Question 7

what do IgE antibodies do?

Answer 7

they bind to the surface of mast cells which cause mast cell degranulation which releases inflammatory mediators

Question 8

what are the different inflammatory mediators released during mast cell degranulation?

Answer 8

bradykinins, histamine, prostalglandin, leukotrienes, interlukins,

Question 9

what do the inflammatory mediators released from the early asthmatic response do?

Answer 9

cause vasodilation, vascular permeability, edema, bronchospasm, mucous secretion, airway constriction and obstruction to airflow

Question 10

when does the late asthmatic response occur?

Answer 10

4 to 8 hours after the early response

Question 11

what is there a release of during the late asthmatic response?

Answer 11

there is a release of inflammatory mediators

Question 12

what does synthesis of leukotrienes during the late response cause?

Answer 12

causes prolonged bronchospasm

Question 13

what does damage to epithelial cells during the late asthmatic response lead to?

Answer 13

accumulation of mucus and cellular debris in the airways

Question 14

what do eosinophils in the late asthmatic response do?

Answer 14

they cause direct tissue injury, proliferation of fibroblasts and airway scarring

Question 15

what is airway remodeling?

Answer 15

permanent airway damage due to chronic inflammation

Question 16

what does airflow obstruction increase?

Answer 16

increases resistance to airflow and expiratory flow rates

Question 17

what does impaired expiration cause?

Answer 17

air trapping, hyperinflation and increased work of breathing

Question 18

what does uneven distribution of air in the lungs lead to?

Answer 18

V/Q mismatch and hypoxemia

Question 19

what is hyperventilation triggered by?

Answer 19

increased lung volume and obstruction

Question 20

what does prolonged obstruction of expiratory airflow do to the thorax?

Answer 20

it causes it to be hyperextended

Question 21

what does a hyperextended thorax lead to?

Answer 21

decreased in TV, hypoventilation and acidosis

Question 22

what is a pulse paradoxus?

Answer 22

a decrease in systolic blood pressure during inspiration

Question 23

what are the symptoms of asthma during an attack?

Answer 23

wheezing, nonproductive cough, chest constriction, tachypnea, tachycardia, dyspnea, prolonged expiration and use of accessory muscles to breath

Question 24

what else may be noted during an attack?

Answer 24

a pulse paradoxus

Question 25

what is status asthmaticus?

Answer 25

the condition when bronchospasms cannot be reversed by usual treatment measures