Airway remodelling

I just read in a post that airways remodel. Can some one please explain this?

I did not even know airways could even change.

thanks in advance

plumie

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Hi,

Basically airway remodelling occurs due to repeated inflammation of the mucosa. Sometimes, fibrosis may occur after an inflammation and this leads to ""landscape changes"" in the airways. Proper asthma treatment and gaining control of your asthma can help to minimize the chances of airway remodelling. However, personally I believe that all asthmatics will have a certain degree of airway remodelling due to the constant inflammation. Not too sure how true it is though.

Hope this helps! (:

Eileen

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plumie, see this

asthma.org.uk/news_media/ne...

or tinyurl.com/2g5swbz

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Sounds ominous...

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I can only say that Brittle asthma was bad enough.

My consultant diagnosed airway remodelling 2 years ago.

He basically said that rather than airways that inflamed and then reversed, they will now and forever more be inflamed. He said once airways have remodelled that was their permanent state.

Since my onset of remodelled airways I now am clinically described as suffering from COPD.

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hi erasmus09080, do remodelled airways definitely indicate COPD?

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Mayhew, not entirely,

The diagnosis of COPD should be considered in anyone who has dyspnea, chronic cough or sputum production, and/or a history of exposure to risk factors for the disease such as regular tobacco smoking. No single symptom or sign can adequately confirm or exclude the diagnosis of COPD although COPD is uncommon under the age of 40 years.

The diagnosis of COPD is confirmed by spirometry. Spirometry measures the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) which is the greatest volume of air that can be breathed out in the first second of a large breath. Spirometry also measures the forced vital capacity (FVC) which is the greatest volume of air that can be breathed out in a whole large breath. Normally at least 70% of the FVC comes out in the first second (i.e. the FEV1/FVC ratio is >70%). In COPD, this ratio is less than normal, (i.e. FEV1/FVC ratio is <70%) even after a bronchodilator medication has been given. So basically you're looking at a fixed and non responsive airways, whether remodelling causes this fixed and non responsive airway is open to further research.

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I agree. I've had airway remodelling for years. But remain labeled as asthmatic and not as copd as never smoked or worked in a smokey enviroment or coalmines.....