The role of small airways in obstructive airway diseases

P-R. Burgel

doi:10.1183/09059180.00010410

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Abstract

This review article is a summary of a seminar organised by the European Respiratory Society on “The role of small airways in obstructive airway diseases” which was held in October 2010 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

The aims of the seminar were to identify important questions related to small airways involvement in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and to discuss future approaches based on current and evolving knowledge. Data obtained by pathological and physiological measurements in small airways and their relevance to clinical manifestations and therapeutics in asthma and COPD were reviewed.

It was concluded that our knowledge on the roles of small airways in asthma and COPD is limited. Studies of large numbers of well-characterised subjects using multiple methods (genetic characterisation, cell biology and physiology, imaging) and integration of the data using mathematical models are suggested to be of interest. The availability of these techniques coupled with our ability to better target inhaled molecules to small airways provide a unique opportunity for a reappraisal of the relevance of small airways in chronic airway diseases.

Footnotes

Provenance
Publication of this peer-reviewed article was supported by Chiesi Farmaceutici SpA, Italy (principal sponsor, European Respiratory Review issue 119).
This version of this article replaces that originally posted online on March 1, 2011. Some of the dosing information presented in the original version was incorrect (pages 28 and 29). This error has now been corrected. In addition, the authors have also made minor editorial changes for this latest version.
Statement of Interest
P-R. Burgel has received less than €5,000 during the past 5 years for fees for speaking by Chiesi Pharmaceuticals. Travel to the ATS congress was also funded by Chiesi Pharmaceuticals. P-R. Burgel received fees for advisory board participation or lectures from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi, Novartis and Nycomed.