The role of female sex hormones in the development and severity of allergic and non-allergic asthma.
Allergic asthma is usually diagnosed by the presence of variable airway obstruction, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and allergy. However, a significant proportion of adult asthma patients (up to 40%) are non-allergic. Patients with non-allergic asthma often have a later disease onset and greater disease severity, as reflected by more severe airway obstruction and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Furthermore, females have a higher risk of developing non-allergic asthma. The latter suggests that hormone-related events play an important role in the development and severity of adult-onset non-allergic asthma. This paper describes the associations between asthma and hormonal changes throughout the female life-span, such as those associated with the monthly cycle of menstruation and menopausal hormonal changes.
van den Berge
M
M
Department of Pulmonology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. m.van.den.berge@int.umcg.nl
Heijink
H I
HI
van Oosterhout
A J M
AJ
Postma
D S
DS
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D042341:Gonadal Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000378:metabolism*; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000378:metabolism*; D012307:Risk Factors
D042341:Gonadal Hormones