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Review
. 2006 Oct;61(10):909-15.
doi: 10.1136/thx.2005.045187.

Asthma exacerbations . 3: Pathogenesis

P A B Wark  1 , P G Gibson
Affiliations
Review

Asthma exacerbations . 3: Pathogenesis

P A B Wark et al. Thorax. 2006 Oct.

Abstract

Asthma exacerbations are an exaggerated lower airway response to an environmental exposure. Respiratory virus infection is the most common environmental exposure to cause a severe asthma exacerbation. Airway inflammation is a key part of the lower airway response in asthma exacerbation, and occurs together with airflow obstruction and increased airway responsiveness. The patterns of airway inflammation differ according to the trigger factor responsible for the exacerbation. The reasons for the exaggerated response of asthmatic airways are not completely understood, but recent studies have identified a deficient epithelial type 1 interferon response as an important susceptibility mechanism for viral infection.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: The authors have participated in clinical trials of asthma therapies funded by GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, Pharmaxis, Aventis, Novartis and NHMRC Australia.

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