title: [Chronic asthmatic bronchitis].
abstract: Many patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) episodically or continuously have asthmatic signs with a degree of reversibility in response to bronchodilators. In such cases, the diagnosis 'chronic asthmatic bronchitis' is often used, although the cause-effect relationship between COPD and asthmatic manifestations is not established. Hence, the 'chronic asthmatic bronchitis' is not a pathogenetic diagnosis, but rather a working diagnosis which implies a specific treatment of the reversible component of chronic airway obstruction. Certainly, the most important measure to avoid a rapid progression of COPD is the elimination of damaging agents by inhalation (smoking). In addition, it was a widely accepted belief that these patients require a continuous inhalation therapy with beta-agonists or anticholinergics. However, there is new evidence, indicating that a continuous treatment might accelerate the decline in ventilatory function and that a better long-term outcome might be achieved by on-demand inhalations.
authors.affiliation: Pneumologische Abteilung, Medizinische Universitätsklinik, Bern.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bachofen
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Im Hof
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013256:Steroids
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D013256:Steroids
vernacular_title: Chronische Asthmabronchitis.