Pathophysiology Of Asthma

Asthma is categorized to be a chronic reversible inflammation of the airway structures (Lee and Schwartz, 2002), which contributes to the airway hypersensitivity, limitation of airflow, and respiratory symptoms (National Institute of Heath, 2007). The immunehistopathologic characteristics involve the inflammatory cell infiltrations that include: Mast cell activation, Neutrophils, Lymphocytes, and Epithelial cell injury. Hence, the interaction between the airway inflammations and the clinical symptoms underline the pathophysiology of Asthma (National Institute of Heath, 2007). Asthma is considered to be an amalgamation between genetic factors and the surrounding environment, and hence common symptoms may encompass: tightness in the chess, difficulty …show more content…
These inflammatory cells generate a range of mediators that act on target cells in the airways, and result in the abnormal pathophysiological features of Asthma (Barnes, 1996). The walls of the airways are considered to be oedematous, and are occupied by inflammatory cells (Barnes, 1996). The activated CD4 T-lymphocytes transport the leukocytes from the bloodstream to the airways (Holgate, 2008), and hence manage the release of mediators from lymphocytes, mast cells, and eosinophil (Fireman, 2003). The allergen trigger causes the cross linkage between the two IgE molecules, and hence results in the release of leukotriene, histamine, and other mediators. These mediators along with mast cells and eosinophil, which produce cytokines, propagate the inflammation of the airways (Fireman, 2003). Consequently, a bronchoscopy of an asthmatic airway is observed to be inflamed, indicating an increase in the number of mast cells, eosinophil, macrophage, and T-leukocytes. Evidence suggests a relationship between the degree of inflammation and the hyper-responsiveness (Barnes, 1996), which is recognised to be a decrease in bronchial airflow after broncoprovocation along with methacholine or histamine (Fireman,