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SELECTED ARTICLES FROM THE RECENT LITERATURE 2008
4/8/08
Pulmonary remodeling occurs in children with asthma and is associated with persistent low lung function not responding to corticosteroids
Summary
The authors investigated two groups of children with severe and persistent symptoms. They were age 5 to 14. Fifteen had what they termed was a "persistent obstructive pattern." That is, their FEV1 did not rise above 80% of predicted normal after a course of corticosteroids, and there was no response to bronchodilators. Ten failed to demonstrate this persistent pattern. They measured surface area of smooth muscle, muscle light chain kinase, reticular basement membrane thickening, and expression and number of vessels as assayed by CD31 expression.
They found that structural abnormalities consistent with airway remodeling were present in children with severe asthma. These changes appeared in both groups. Distinctions between the two groups were noted in airway smooth muscle thickening and density of the vascular network. These were more pronounced in children demonstrating the persistent obstructive phenotype.
Reference
Tillie-Leblond I, et al. Airway remodeling is correlated with obstruction in children with severe asthma. Allergy, May 2008; 63(5):533-541.
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