[Characteristics of mild asthma: descriptive epidemiology and nature of bronchial inflammation. Position of the Mild Asthma Working Group].
BACKGROUND
Update on the state of knowledge in the mild asthma (intermittent and persistent mild asthma, according to the GINA classification) literature, and position of a French Mild Asthma Working Group.


BACKGROUND
The French Mild Asthma Working Group (11 lung specialists, 4 paediatricians, 1 pharmacologist, and 1 general practitioner) selected, analysed, and summarised the literature on the epidemiology, physiopathology, clinical signs, and management of mild asthma. The present article shows the position of the working group on mild asthma descriptive epidemiology (causal factors excluded) and the nature of the bronchial inflammation. Clinical signs and medicinal treatments will be presented in a second article.


CONCLUSIONS
Between 50% and 75% of asthma patients, depending on the study, present mild asthma. Childhood-to-adulthood cohort monitoring found severity to be unchanged over developmental time. Its generally benign evolution may in some (<10%) cases be complicated by severe episodes. Inflammation and airway-wall remodelling were always found, although of variable intensity, and non-specific (except for absence of infiltration by polymorphonuclear neutrophils). Corticosteroid therapy by inhalation reduces bronchial inflammation, but with little impact on airway-wall remodelling.


CONCLUSIONS
The present findings should help clinicians in identifying and understanding mild asthma.
Chanez
P
P
Clinique des maladies respiratoires, Hôpital Arnaud Villeneuve, Montpellier, France.
de Blic
J
J
Delacourt
C
C
Deschildre
A
A
Devillier
P
P
Didier
A
A
Dusser
D
D
Humbert
M
M
Leroyer
C
C
Marguet
C
C
Martinat
Y
Y
Piquet
J
J
Raherison
C
C
Serrier
P
P
Tillie-Leblond
I
I
Tonnel
A B
AB
Tunon de Lara
M
M
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001980:Bronchi / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000473:pathology
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents