title: Irritant-induced airway disorders.
abstract: Thousands of persons experience accidental high-level irritant exposures each year but most recover and few die. Irritants function differently than allergens because their actions proceed nonspecifically and by nonimmunologic mechanisms. For some individuals, the consequence of a single massive exposure to an irritant, gas, vapor or fume is persistent airway hyperresponsiveness and the clinical picture of asthma, referred to as reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS). Repeated irritant exposures may lead to chronic cough and continual airway hyperresponsiveness. Cases of asthma attributed to repeated irritant-exposures may be the result of genetic and/or host factors.
authors: Colleges of Public Health & Medicine, USF Health Science Center, University of South Florida, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33612, USA. sbrooks@health.usf.edu
authors: Stuart M
authors: SM
authors: Brooks
authors: I Leonard
authors: IL
authors: Bernstein
mesh_terms: D056151:Airway Remodeling / Q000276:immunology; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D059366:Asthma, Occupational / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001989:Bronchiolitis Obliterans / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D007509:Irritants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D016210:Methacholine Chloride / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000074025:TRPA1 Cation Channel; D050916:TRPV Cation Channels / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D050051:Transient Receptor Potential Channels / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D015220:Calcium Channels; D007509:Irritants; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000074025:TRPA1 Cation Channel; C473350:TRPA1 protein, human; D050916:TRPV Cation Channels; C494482:TRPV1 protein, human; D050051:Transient Receptor Potential Channels; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; D007073:Immunoglobulin E