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Asthma and chronic sickle cell lung disease: a dynamic relationship
1Division of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Montreal Children's Hospital-McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. larry.lands@muhc.mcgill.ca
Paediatric Respiratory Reviews
|December 22, 2010
Summary
Sickle cell disease patients often develop chronic lung disease. This review examines the link between asthma and sickle cell lung disease, exploring potential benefits of asthma therapies.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Hematology
Background:
- Chronic lung disease is a major cause of illness and death in sickle cell disease (SCD).
- Asthma and SCD-related lung disease share clinical and pathological similarities.
- Evidence links SCD to airway hyper-reactivity, but a clear definition of asthma in SCD is lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on asthma and airway hyper-reactivity in SCD.
- To investigate if standard asthma treatments could slow or prevent SCD lung disease progression.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on SCD, asthma, and airway hyper-reactivity.
- Analysis of pathophysiological mechanisms common to both conditions.
- Evaluation of existing asthma treatment efficacy in SCD contexts.
Main Results:
- Growing evidence supports an association between SCD and airway hyper-reactivity.
- Lack of consensus on defining asthma within the context of SCD.
- Potential therapeutic overlap between asthma and SCD lung disease.
Conclusions:
- Further research is needed to define asthma in SCD.
- Asthma therapies may offer a strategy to manage or prevent SCD lung disease.
- Understanding shared mechanisms can guide treatment development for SCD lung complications.
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