title: Asthma. Anti-inflammatory therapies.
abstract: It is likely that airway inflammation has an central role in the development and maintenance of the structural and functional abnormalities that characterise asthma. The recognition that asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways has resulted in an increased emphasis on the use of anti-inflammatory drugs. The principal anti-inflammatory drugs are corticosteroids and to a lesser extent sodium cromoglycate and nedocromil sodium. Several other drugs and therapies may also have anti-inflammatory effects in asthma. The early use of prophylactic anti-inflammatory agents is advocated in the treatment of chronic asthma. It is hoped that this treatment scheme will result in a reduction in the morbidity and mortality from this common chronic condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Western Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Thomson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D017835:Nedocromil; D015363:Quinolones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013256:Steroids
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D015363:Quinolones; D013256:Steroids; D017835:Nedocromil; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium