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Airway wall remodelling: The influence of corticosteroids

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Christopher WardORCiD

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Abstract

Purpose of the review: We have attempted to bring together recent findings, mainly from airway endobronchial biopsies, on the structural changes that constitute 'remodelling' in airway disease, with a particular focus on asthma. We have tried to put this into the context of classic studies on the asthma pathological phenotype. Having described these basic changes, we have then given an update on recent studies investigating the effects of corticosteroid medication on the different manifestations of remodelled airways. Recent findings: The effects of corticosteroid on airway remodelling seem to vary a great deal; some aspects are steroid responsive while others are not, or less so. It is likely that different manifestations of remodelling require different doses and timescales for treatment to be effective. Summary: Further longitudinal interventional studies are required, with multiple airway sampling times, to fully elucidate the full potential for corticosteroids to benefit remodelling of the airways in chronic inflammatory diseases. There needs to be more attention to pathophysiological and clinical correlations in such studies. It is likely that even when used optimally corticosteroids will have limited efficacy overall in this aspect of asthma pathogenesis. The search is on for newer and better treatments.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Ward C, Walters H

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Current Opinion in Allergy and Clinical Immunology

Year: 2005

Volume: 5

Issue: 1

Pages: 43-48

Print publication date: 01/02/2005

ISSN (print): 1528-4050

ISSN (electronic): 1473-6322

Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00130832-200502000-00009

DOI: 10.1097/00130832-200502000-00009

PubMed id: 15643343


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