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Review
. 2013 Jun;13(3):331-6.
doi: 10.1016/j.coph.2013.04.010. Epub 2013 May 9.

Anti-viral agents: potential utility in exacerbations of asthma

Jaideep Dhariwal  1 , Michael R Edwards, Sebastian L Johnston
Affiliations
Review

Anti-viral agents: potential utility in exacerbations of asthma

Jaideep Dhariwal et al. Curr Opin Pharmacol. 2013 Jun.

Abstract

Asthma is the most common chronic respiratory disease and its prevalence is on the increase. Respiratory viral infections in early life have been suggested to increase the risk of development of asthma in later life and virus infection remains the single greatest precipitant of asthma exacerbations. The development of effective anti-viral treatments remains a key target for therapeutic intervention. Here we discuss the role of respiratory viral infection in asthma exacerbation and highlight current and potential anti-viral agents and their mechanisms of action.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Anti-viral approaches may (1) prevent viruses acting in a synergistic or additive manner with allergens, and cause immune deviation to a Th1 rather than Th2 immune response. Anti-viral approaches may be (2) agents that prevent virus infection or replication at mucosal surfaces and prevent epithelial damage, inflammation, mucous production, activation of macrophages and attraction of neutrophils into the lung, which promote further inflammation and damage.
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