Treatment of Bronchial Asthma I D. Laila.M. Matalqah Respiratory System Faculty of Medicine 1 Asthma 2 Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways in which many cells and cellular elements play a role particular, mast cells, eosinophils, T- lymphocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, and epithelial cells. Asthma is characterized by recurrent episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing, particularly at night or in the early morning. Asthma 3 Asthmatic symptoms are due to : 1. Constriction of bronchial smooth muscle (bronchospasm) 2. Oedema of the mucosa lining the small bronchi, 3. Plugging of the bronchial lumen with viscous mucus and inflammatory cells (hypersecretion) 4 Pathophysiology of asthma 5 1. Early Phase allergic reaction Presentation of antigens to T lymphocytes causes activation of the T-Helper cell type 2 leading to B-cell production of antigen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) and cytokines. exposure to the antigen results in: cross-linking of cell-bound IgE in mast cells and macrophages causing the release or generation of inflammatory mediators such as histamine, leukotrienes and prostaglandins results in acute bronchoconstriction in