Patho Mid-Term Study Guide Week 4

review concepts related to anticholinergic drugs and the treatment for asthma, bronchitis and associated pathogenesis; chronic bronchitis and related acid/base disturbances, perfusion, blood flow between the heart and lungs, asthma signs and symptoms, bronchioles, alveolar hyperinflation with asthma, polycythemia vera; mechanism of action of anticholinergic drugs to treat asthma Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by sensitization to allergens, bronchial hyperreactivity, and reversible airway obstruction. Asthma is initiated by a type I hypersensitivity reaction primarily mediated by IgE. Airway epithelial exposure to antigen initiates both an innate and an adaptive immune response in sensitized individuals. Many cells and cellular elements contribute to the persistent inflammation of the bronchial mucosa and hyperresponsiveness of the airways, including macrophages (dendritic cells), T helper 2 (Th2) lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, mast cells, neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils. There is both an immediate (early asthmatic response) and a late (delayed) response. In young children, airway obstruction can be more severe because of the smaller diameter of their airways. Asthma is caused by complex interaction of genetic and environmental factors. Asthma results in excess mucus production and accumulation hypertrophy of bronchial smooth muscle airflow obstruction decreased alveolar ventilation. Asthma can take two forms: extrinsic and intrinsic. The most common symptoms of both extrinsic and intrinsic asthma are: coughing, wheezing shortness of breath rapid breathing chest tightness Extrinsic: The plugs of mucus and pus from this inflammatory process can block alveolar passageways, leading to air-trapping and hyperinflation more signs and symptoms consistent with the diagnosis of asthma This process is illustrated in this image which shows the airway pathology in its entirety mast cell degranulation triggered by the excessive amounts of IGE that have airingly formed this individual that will bind that allergen as it enters the airway that mast cell degranulation releases chemicals that releases mucus production and accumulation as well as chemicals that contribute to smooth muscle constriction that smooth muscle constriction along with mucus plugs that form result in hyperinflation of the alveoli and eventual erosion of airway tissue Intrinsic: can be triggered by a variety of non-allergic factors, each causing a slightly different variation on the inflammatory process. Regardless of the underlying cause of asthma, the disease process has both a bronchoconstriction component and an inflammation component.