Week 11 - Respiratory - Asthma

Question 1

What are the 3 characteristics of Bronchial Asthma?

Answer 1

Inflammation of airways

Bronchial hyper-responsiveness

Reversible airway obstruction

Question 2

What occurs during Inflammation of airways in Bronchial Asthma?

Answer 2

• infiltration of eosiniphils
• release cytotoxic mediators
• which damage epithelium

Question 3

What occurs during Bronchial hyper-responsiveness in Bronchial Asthma?

Answer 3

• increased airway irritability to stimuli

- such as cold air, chemicals/substances, drugs

Question 4

What occurs during Reversible airway obstruction in Bronchial Asthma?

Answer 4

• smooth muscle contraction

- thick mucous secretion

Question 5

What are the 2 phases of Bronchial Asthma?

Answer 5

Immediate

Late

Question 6

What are the characteristics of the Immediate Phase in Bronchial Asthma?

Answer 6

• Rapid response to allergen
• Bronchoconstriction and Mucous secretion
• Release of Histamine, leukotrin B4, prostaglandin and inflammatory cytokines

Question 7

What are the characteristics of the Late Phase in Bronchial Asthma?

Answer 7

• Progression of inflammatory reaction
• Infiltration of T helper lymphocytes
• attract other inflammatory cells
• promote hyper-responsiveness
• Adenosine, induce NO and neuropeptides important

Question 8

What are the effects of the Late Phase in Bronchial Asthma?

Answer 8

• Proliferation of fibroblasts and fibrosis
• Oedema of airways mucosa
• Necrosis of bronchial epithelial cells
• Airway remodeling with increased collagen deposition

Question 9

What are the 2 types of asthma medications?

Answer 9

Bronchodilators

Anti-inflammatory agents

Question 10

What are the effects and examples of Bronchodilators?

Answer 10

- Used in Immediate Phase
Reverse bronchospasm, symptomatic treatment
- B2-antagonists (salbutamol)
- Muscurinic antagonists (ipratropium)
- H1 antagonists

Question 11

What are the effects and examples of Anti-inflammatories?

Answer 11

Used in Late Phase

• inhibit inflammatory component in phase 1 and 2
• glucocorticoids (hydrocortisone) and cromoglicate