title: Asthma pathophysiology and the scientific rationale for combination therapy.
abstract: The clinical and scientific description of asthma has been undergoing an evolution of continuous revision during the past 10 years. This disorder has been recognized as a complex entity with interplay between genetic, environmental, and allergenic factors resulting in a significant component of inflammation of the airway. Recent directions in therapy differ in taking either the broad-based antagonist or the specific mediator antagonist approach. This review highlights some of the scientific evidence of the operative pathophysiological events and reviews their applicability to the rationale for broad-based combination asthma therapy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Lawrence S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Schieken
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid