title: Review of guidelines and the literature in the treatment of acute bronchospasm in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: In 2002, an estimated 11.2 million adults in the United States had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Guidelines for the management of the disease have been published by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) and the American Thoracic Society-European Respiratory Society. Several other organizations are in the process of preparing guidelines for COPD, most based on the GOLD report. The most important pharmacologic intervention in COPD is treatment with bronchodilator drugs. This intervention applies not only to stable COPD, but also to exacerbations (flares) of the disease. Prevention strategies have been developed for acute exacerbations, and management strategies include using short-acting beta(2)-agonists, systemic corticosteroids, and antibiotics, in both at home and hospital settings.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine,Durham, North Carolina 27707, USA.
authors.forename: Roy A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Pleasants
mesh_terms: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000420:Albuterol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001986:Bronchial Spasm / Q000628:therapy*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D000420:Albuterol