Effect of inhaled bronchodilators on air trapping in patients with stable asthma.
Air trapping is frequently observed during high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of patients with asthma, but whether the condition is reversible has not been thoroughly investigated. The aim of the present study was to evaluate reversibility of air trapping in response to bronchodilator. Ten never-smokers with stable asthma enrolled in the study. Spirometry and HRCT were performed before and after bronchodilator inhalation. Air trapping remained unchanged, although significant reversibility of FEV(1) was observed. Air trapping scores correlated significantly with airway wall thickness. These observations suggest that air trapping is irreversible and that it represents structural remodeling of small airways in patients with stable asthma.
Ito
Ryoji
R
Department of Internal Medicine II, Ehime University School of Medicine, Ehime, Japan.
Yokoyama
Akihito
A
Hamada
Hironobu
H
Yasuhara
Yoshifumi
Y
Kohno
Nobuoki
N
Higaki
Jitsuo
J
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000388:Air; D001249:Asthma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001980:Bronchi / Q000473:pathology; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D001993:Bronchodilator Agents