Non-eosinophilic asthma: Importance and possible mechanisms

Page 1 of 1 Start Back Next End    Non-eosinophilic asthma: importance and possible mechanisms  Abstract  Aim: To study the aetiology of asthma  including the underlying inflammatory profiles.  Introduction: Asthma  is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm.  Symptoms include wheezing, cough, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.  There is increasing evidence that inflammatory mechanisms other than eosinophilic  inflammation may be involved in producing the final common pathway of enhanced bronchial  reactivity and reversible airflow obstruction that characterises asthma. A review of the literature  has shown that, at most, only 50% of asthma cases are attributable to eosinophilic airway  inflammation. It is hypothesised that a major proportion of asthma is based on neutrophilic  airway inflammation, possibly triggered by environmental exposure to bacterial endotoxin,  particulate air pollution, and ozone, as well as viral infections. If there are indeed two (or more)  subtypes of asthma, and if non-eosinophilic (neutrophil mediated) asthma is relatively common,  this would have major consequences for the treatment and prevention of asthma since most  treatment and prevention strategies are now almost entirely focused on allergic/eosinophilic  asthma and allergen avoidance measures, respectively. It is therefore important to study the  aetiology of asthma further, including the underlying inflammatory profiles.  Conclusion: Asthma is thus an inflammatory disease caused by the inflammation of bronchioles.  Also asthma cases are attributable to eosinophilic airway inflammation. Keywords: Asthma, eosinophilic inflammation, bronchioles.