An updated model of clinical asthma.
A model of asthma, based on the Expert Panel Report but updated to allow for the independence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness from airway inflammation, is presented. The updated model of asthma can be summarized: (1) AI = f1(Allergen)-f2(AI); (2) BHR = f3(Allergen)-f4(BHR); (3) PR = f5(AI); (4) Asthma = f6(AI + BHR + PR); where AI is airway inflammation, Allergen is sensitization by allergen, BHR is bronchial hyperreactivity, and PR is pulmonary remodeling. The updated model demonstrates that preventing bronchial hyperreactivity will not prevent the lung destruction associated with asthmatic pulmonary remodeling. The updated model of clinical asthma presented here helps to provide a basis for computer simulation of chronic asthma.
Weltman
J K
JK
Brown Medical School, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA.
D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D018448:Models, Immunological