title: [Asthma and nonspecific bronchial hyperreactivity].
abstract: Bronchial hyperresponsiveness is a hallmark of asthma although it can also be present, to a lesser extent, in other diseases. The level of bronchial responsiveness depends on immuno-inflammatory processes modifying the functional status of airway smooth muscle as well as the structure of the bronchial wall. The responsiveness toward a direct constricting pharmacological agent is poorly correlated to the one toward an indirect constricting agent or a physical stimulus which cause airway obstruction through a more complex mechanism. Transversal studies show a relationship between the severity of asthma and the level of methacholine airway responsiveness. Long term treatment with corticoids can reduce the bronchial hyperresponsiveness of asthmatics.
authors.affiliation: Service de Pneumologie, CHU Sart Tilman, Liege, Belgique.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Louis
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kayembe
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Radermecker
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000503:physiopathology; D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001980:Bronchi / Q000187:drug effects; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000503:physiopathology; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents
vernacular_title: Asthme et hyperréactivité bronchique non spécifique.