| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1 Respiratory Disease, University of Pavia, IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo, Pavia, Italy
2 Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
3 Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
4 Asthma and COPD Center, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: brusasco{at}dism.unige.it.
This study investigated the relationships between pathological changes in small airways (<6 mm perimeter) and lung function in 22 non-asthmatic subjects (20 smokers) undergoing lung resection for peripheral lesions. Pre-operative pulmonary function tests revealed airway obstruction (FEV1/FVC<70%) in 12 subjects and normal lung function in 10. Considering all subjects together, total airway wall thickness was significantly correlated with FEV1/FVC (r2=0.25), reactivity to methacholine (r2=0.26), and slope of linear regression of FVC against FEV1 values recorded during the metacholine challenge (r2=0.56). Loss of peribronchiolar alveolar attachments was significantly associated (r2=0.25) with a bronchoconstrictor effect of deep inhalation, as assessed from maximal-to-partial expiratory flow ratio <1, but not with airway responses to methacholine. No significant correlation was found between airway smooth muscle thickness and lung function measurements. In conclusion, this study suggests that thickening of airway wall is a major mechanism for airway closure, while loss of airways-to-lung interdependence may contribute to the bronchoconstrictor effect of deep inhalation in the transition from normal lung function to airway obstruction in non-asthmatic smokers.
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  A. M. Slats, K. Janssen, A. van Schadewijk, D. T. van der Plas, R. Schot, J. G. van den Aardweg, J. C. de Jongste, P. S. Hiemstra, T. Mauad, K. F. Rabe, et al. Bronchial Inflammation and Airway Responses to Deep Inspiration in Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., July 15, 2007; 176(2): 121 - 128. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. L. James and S. Wenzel Clinical relevance of airway remodelling in airway diseases Eur. Respir. J., July 1, 2007; 30(1): 134 - 155. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 V. Brusasco Reducing cholinergic constriction: the major reversible mechanism in COPD Eur. Respir. Rev., December 1, 2006; 15(99): 32 - 36. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 T. Higenbottam Pulmonary Hypertension and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Case for Treatment Proceedings of the ATS, April 1, 2005; 2(1): 12 - 19. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 N. Scichilone, R. Marchese, F. Catalano, A. M. Vignola, A. Togias, and V. Bellia Bronchodilatory Effect of Deep Inspiration Is Absent in Subjects With Mild COPD Chest, June 1, 2004; 125(6): 2029 - 2035. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. K. Kjaergaard, O. F. Pedersen, M. R. Miller, T. R. Rasmussen, J. C. Hansen, and L. Molhave Ozone exposure decreases the effect of a deep inhalation on forced expiratory flow in normal subjects J Appl Physiol, May 1, 2004; 96(5): 1651 - 1657. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. D. Wang, H. Tai, C. Xie, X. Wang, J. L. Wright, and A. Churg Cigarette Smoke Produces Airway Wall Remodeling in Rat Tracheal Explants Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., November 15, 2003; 168(10): 1232 - 1236. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH |
| Visit Other APS Journals Online |
