Abstract
This review is the summary of a workshop on small airways disease, which took place in Porquerolles, France in November 2011. The purpose of this workshop was to review the evidence on small airways (bronchiolar) involvement under various pathophysiological circumstances, excluding asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Histopathological patterns associated with small airways disease were reviewed, including cellular and obliterative bronchiolitis. Many pathophysiological conditions have been associated with small airways disease including airway infections, connective tissue diseases and inflammatory bowel diseases, bone marrow and lung transplantation, common variable immunodeficiency disorders, diffuse panbronchiolitis, and diseases related to environmental exposures to pollutants, allergens and drugs. Pathogenesis, clinical presentation, a computed tomography scan and pulmonary function test findings are reviewed, and therapeutic options are described with the objective of providing an integrative approach to these disorders.
- Airway pathology
- connective tissue disease
- constrictive bronchiolitis
- drug-induced lung disease
- follicular bronchiolitis
- immune deficiency
Footnotes
↵We dedicate this manuscript to honour the legacy of our dear co-author and friend Isabelle Tillie-Leblond (1965–2013), for her outstanding contribution to respiratory disease care and research, and her unconditional friendship.
Provenance
Publication of this peer-reviewed article was supported by Chiesi SA, France (article sponsor, European Respiratory Review issue 128).
Statement of Interest
Conflict of interest information can be found alongside the online version of this article at err.ersjournals.com
- Received March 12, 2013.
- Accepted March 29, 2013.
- ©ERS 2013
