[Smokers with chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Utilize the entire therapy spectrum!].
In the majority of cases, chronic obstructive bronchitis is due to inhalative cigarette smoking. Not only does it cause high costs, but it also has a poor prognosis. The pathogenesis of the illness is now considered to be chronic, mainly neutrophilic, inflammation of the airways and the peripheral parts of the lungs--chronic hypersecretion is a common feature of the disease. Successful treatment requires the giving up of inhalative cigarette smoking. Pharmacological options include anticholinergics, beta sympathomimetics, theophylline and inhalative or systemic corticosteroids. Long-acting beta sympathomimetics such as formoterol, and salmeterol, and still experimental long-acting parasympatholytics, represent significant advances. Such additional measures as vaccination, long-term administration of oxygen and, more recently, surgical procedures such as lung volume reduction to treat severe pulmonary emphysema are described.
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Missionsärztliche Klinik, Akademisches Lehrkrankenhaus, Universität Würzburg.
D001991:Bronchitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016540:Smoking Cessation