[Physiopathology of asthma].
Bronchial asthma is a unique disease; knowledge of the pathophysiology increases rapidly and underlines that is more a syndrome than a disease. Indeed a new definition has been recently proposed: desquamative eosinophilic chronic bronchitis. The airway obstruction, which is responsible for the wheezing breathlessness, is the consequence of a spasm but also an inflammation. After activation of the resident cells in the airways (mast cells, epithelial cells and alveolar macrophages), mediators are released and - in cooperation with the nervous system-recruit inflammatory cells from blood and bone marrow (mainly eosinophils). A kind of vicious circle seems to amplify the initial (allergic or not) event. Desquamation of the epithelium and disposition of collagen on the basement membrane take a quite long time to be cleared after an asthma attack. Mechanisms of repair must be studied in order to improve treatment. Bronchial asthma is not really a disease; indeed a lot of precipitating agents are able to induce and increase bronchial hyperreactivity. Allergy is the most important factor; but environment, hormones and other infectious agents could be quite important in many patients.
Godard
P
P
Clinique des Maladies Respiratoires, Montpellier.
Chanez
P
P
Pujol
J L
JL
Clauzel
A M
AM
Bousquet
J
J
Michel
F B
FB
D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D001491:Basophils / Q000502:physiology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006632:Histamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000502:physiology; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D051381:Rats
D000485:Allergens; D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D006632:Histamine
Physiopathologie de l'asthme.