STUDY OBJECTIVES: Extensive airway inflammation and excessive mucus production are implicated in deaths from asthma. High-resolution CT (HRCT) can be used to image both large and small airway abnormalities in asthmatics. The aims of this study were to clarify the distinction of HRCT features between near-fatal asthma (NFA) and non-NFA, and to evaluate serial follow-up HRCT scans of patients with NFA. PATIENTS AND DESIGN: Abnormalities of the large airway (bronchial wall thickness) and small airways (prominence of centrilobular structures and air trapping) were measured semiquantitatively on HRCT scans of 24 non-NFA, 16 NFA, and 16 control subjects. In addition, these abnormalities were reevaluated after intensive and relatively long-term (> 6 months) treatment with inhaled corticosteroids. RESULTS: Prominence of centrilobular structures was observed in 36% of mild asthma cases, in 70% of moderate-to-severe asthma cases, and in 100% of NFA cases. Prominence of centrilobular structures, but neither bronchial wall thickness nor the area of air trapping, was significantly increased in NFA, as compared with mild or moderate-to-severe asthma (p < 0.05). In the seven non-NFA and five NFA patients who underwent follow-up HRCT scans, only bronchial wall thickness was decreased significantly in the NFA cases (p < 0.05), while bronchial wall thickness and the prominence of centrilobular structures were significantly decreased in the non-NFA cases. These small airway abnormalities were partially reversible in the both groups. Residual prominence of centrilobular structures after long-term inhaled corticosteroid treatment was significantly higher in NFA than non-NFA patients. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study indicate that extensive small airway abnormalities may be associated with NFA, and that these abnormalities are partially reversible after the successful control of asthma symptoms.
STUDY OBJECTIVES: Extensive airway inflammation and excessive mucus production are implicated in deaths from asthma. High-resolution CT (HRCT) can be used to image both large and small airway abnormalities in asthmatics. The aims of this study were to clarify the distinction of HRCT features between near-fatal asthma (NFA) and non-NFA, and to evaluate serial follow-up HRCT scans of patients with NFA. PATIENTS AND DESIGN: Abnormalities of the large airway (bronchial wall thickness) and small airways (prominence of centrilobular structures and air trapping) were measured semiquantitatively on HRCT scans of 24 non-NFA, 16 NFA, and 16 control subjects. In addition, these abnormalities were reevaluated after intensive and relatively long-term (> 6 months) treatment with inhaled corticosteroids. RESULTS: Prominence of centrilobular structures was observed in 36% of mild asthma cases, in 70% of moderate-to-severe asthma cases, and in 100% of NFA cases. Prominence of centrilobular structures, but neither bronchial wall thickness nor the area of air trapping, was significantly increased in NFA, as compared with mild or moderate-to-severe asthma (p < 0.05). In the seven non-NFA and five NFApatients who underwent follow-up HRCT scans, only bronchial wall thickness was decreased significantly in the NFA cases (p < 0.05), while bronchial wall thickness and the prominence of centrilobular structures were significantly decreased in the non-NFA cases. These small airway abnormalities were partially reversible in the both groups. Residual prominence of centrilobular structures after long-term inhaled corticosteroid treatment was significantly higher in NFA than non-NFApatients. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study indicate that extensive small airway abnormalities may be associated with NFA, and that these abnormalities are partially reversible after the successful control of asthma symptoms.
Authors: Michael E Wechsler; Michel Laviolette; Adalberto S Rubin; Jussara Fiterman; Jose R Lapa e Silva; Pallav L Shah; Elie Fiss; Ronald Olivenstein; Neil C Thomson; Robert M Niven; Ian D Pavord; Michael Simoff; Jeff B Hales; Charlene McEvoy; Dirk-Jan Slebos; Mark Holmes; Martin J Phillips; Serpil C Erzurum; Nicola A Hanania; Kaharu Sumino; Monica Kraft; Gerard Cox; Daniel H Sterman; Kyle Hogarth; Joel N Kline; Adel H Mansur; Brian E Louie; William M Leeds; Richard G Barbers; John H M Austin; Narinder S Shargill; John Quiring; Brian Armstrong; Mario Castro Journal: J Allergy Clin Immunol Date: 2013-08-30 Impact factor: 10.793
Authors: Sumit Gupta; Ruth Hartley; Amisha Singapuri; Beverly Hargadon; William Monteiro; Ian D Pavord; Ana R Sousa; Richard P Marshall; Deepak Subramanian; David Parr; James J Entwisle; Salman Siddiqui; Vimal Raj; Christopher E Brightling Journal: Am J Respir Crit Care Med Date: 2015-01-01 Impact factor: 21.405
Authors: Sung Shine Shim; Mark L Schiebler; Michael D Evans; Nizar Jarjour; Ron L Sorkness; Loren C Denlinger; Alfonso Rodriguez; Sally Wenzel; Eric A Hoffman; Ching-Long Lin; David S Gierada; Mario Castro; Sean B Fain Journal: J Allergy Clin Immunol Date: 2018-02-10 Impact factor: 10.793