title: The adult asthmatic.
abstract: Asthma in the adult patient is a complex clinical syndrome. Multiple patient phenotypes and subphenotypes exist that contribute to disease heterogeneity. Whether adult asthma begins in utero, develops in childhood, or manifests for the first time in adulthood is not completely understood, nor are the mechanisms fully delineated. In this chapter, we update definitions that apply to this group, emphasize epidemiologic factors and pathogenic mechanisms, diagnosis, therapeutic options, and controversies regarding drug safety. Finally, we provide a brief discussion of biomarker technologies and novel therapies with the potential to impact adult-onset asthma outcomes.
authors.affiliation: UC Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA, USA. amir.zeki@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
authors.forename: Amir A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Zeki
authors.forename: Nicholas J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Kenyon
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoneda
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Louie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents