Linking upper and lower airways.
BACKGROUND
Upper and lower airways are similar in many ways, including common triggers, pathogenic mechanisms, and response to treatment. Explanations for the posed linkage between upper and lower airways include nasal-bronchial reflux, postnasal drainage of inflammatory material into the lower airways, and dry air impinging on the nasal mucosa.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment modalities such as antihistamines and corticosteroid aerosols by the nasal route improve both the upper and lower airways.
Aubier
M
M
Unité de Pneumologie-INSERM U 408-Hôpital BICHAT, Paris, France.
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D017332:Cetirizine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D017332:Cetirizine