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Related Concept Videos

Asthma III: Clinical Manifestations01:13

Asthma III: Clinical Manifestations

Asthma presents with a characteristic pattern of episodic respiratory symptoms that reflect underlying airway inflammation, bronchoconstriction, and mucus hypersecretion. Although severity varies among individuals, certain clinical manifestations are considered hallmarks of the disorder and often guide diagnosis and assessment.Respiratory SymptomsA persistent cough is one of the most common early features of asthma. It is frequently dry and tends to worsen at night or in the early morning,...
Asthma: Pathogenesis and Management01:20

Asthma: Pathogenesis and Management

Asthma is a chronic pulmonary condition involving inflammation of the airways, hyper-reactivity, and reversible obstruction of the airways. This condition can significantly impact a person's quality of life, making breathing difficult and leading to distressing symptoms.
Asthma is classified as allergic and non-allergic. Allergens such as dust mites, pollen, and pet dander trigger allergic asthma, while factors like cold air, intense emotions, or exercise can induce non-allergic asthma.
Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification01:26

Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification

Asthma is a prevalent chronic respiratory condition marked by inflammation and hyperresponsiveness of the airways. Its pathophysiology involves complex interactions among inflammatory pathways, immune responses, and neural mechanisms.
Additionally, environmental and genetic factors play crucial roles in determining an individual's susceptibility to asthma and the severity of their condition.
Critical processes in asthma pathophysiology include:
Asthma I: Introduction01:28

Asthma I: Introduction

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways characterized by variable airflow obstruction and heightened bronchial responsiveness to a wide range of triggers. The underlying inflammation leads to airway swelling, mucus hypersecretion, and smooth muscle constriction, all of which narrow the airway lumen and impede airflow. Clinically, asthma presents with recurrent episodes of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing, symptoms that typically vary in intensity and...
Asthma-III: Symptoms and Complications01:24

Asthma-III: Symptoms and Complications

Asthma, a common chronic respiratory condition, is classified considering the frequency and severity of symptoms alongside lung function impairment. Understanding this classification is essential for appropriate treatment and management. Here's a detailed look at the classification of asthma and its clinical features and complications:
Classification of Asthma
Background and Environment Affect Phenotype02:27

Background and Environment Affect Phenotype

Although the genetic makeup of an organism plays a major role in determining the phenotype, there are also several environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen availability, presence of mutagens, that can alter an organism’s phenotype.
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Murine Model of Allergen Induced Asthma
08:05

Murine Model of Allergen Induced Asthma

Published on: May 14, 2012

Severe asthma: how can we differentiate phenotypes?

Renaud Louis1

  • 1Department of Respiratory Medicine, I3GIGA Research Group, Department of Pneumology, Liege University, Liege, Belgium. r.louis@chu.ulg.ac.be

Swiss Medical Weekly
|May 20, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Difficult-to-treat asthma affects 5-10% of patients and requires careful diagnosis. Understanding its unique immune mechanisms and phenotypes is key to developing new treatments for severe asthma.

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Bronchial Thermoplasty: A Novel Therapeutic Approach to Severe Asthma
14:39

Bronchial Thermoplasty: A Novel Therapeutic Approach to Severe Asthma

Published on: November 4, 2010

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Murine Model of Allergen Induced Asthma
08:05

Murine Model of Allergen Induced Asthma

Published on: May 14, 2012

Bronchial Thermoplasty: A Novel Therapeutic Approach to Severe Asthma
14:39

Bronchial Thermoplasty: A Novel Therapeutic Approach to Severe Asthma

Published on: November 4, 2010

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonology
  • Immunology
  • Allergy

Background:

  • Difficult-to-treat asthma, also known as severe or refractory asthma, affects 5-10% of individuals with asthma.
  • These patients do not achieve asthma control with standard high-dose inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta-agonists.
  • Accurate diagnosis, including ruling out other conditions and assessing comorbidities, is crucial before classifying asthma as difficult-to-treat.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the distinct pathophysiology and immune mechanisms of severe asthma.
  • To identify different phenotypes of difficult-to-treat asthma.
  • To highlight the importance of understanding these mechanisms for developing novel therapeutic targets.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current understanding of severe asthma pathophysiology.
  • Analysis of immune mechanisms beyond Th2 inflammation.
  • Identification and characterization of distinct asthma phenotypes through cluster analysis.

Main Results:

  • Severe asthma pathophysiology differs from mild-to-moderate forms, with less prominent allergic mechanisms.
  • Environmental factors like pollution, smoke, and viruses play a significant role.
  • Small airway involvement and air trapping are critical in refractory asthma.
  • Two clusters identified: early-onset symptom-predominant and late-onset inflammation-predominant.

Conclusions:

  • Severe asthma involves complex immune and environmental factors, not solely Th2-driven.
  • Phenotypic heterogeneity is evident, with distinct clusters identified.
  • Targeting specific mechanisms and phenotypes is essential for improving treatment outcomes in difficult-to-treat asthma.