title: Bronchoprovocation testing in asthma.
abstract: Bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) is an important feature of asthma and is useful in diagnosis, monitoring, and prognostication. It probably represents inherent elements of the disease process such as genetic predisposition, airway inflammation, and airway remodeling. Airway inflammation likely accounts for the variable component of BHR, whereas the persistent component of BHR correlates significantly with structural changes in the airway, such as basement membrane thickness and epithelial damage. It might be this component that is resistant or refractory to the effects of available interventions. A few trials of immunomodulatory therapy have shown considerable improvements in markers of airway inflammation, without significantly modifying airway reactivity. Interventions to impact the more permanent feature of BHR are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, 1400 Jackson Street (J316), Denver, CO 80206, USA. covarr@njc.org
authors.forename: Ronina A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Covar
mesh_terms: D000249:Adenosine Monophosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015415:Biomarkers; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D000249:Adenosine Monophosphate