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Bronchial blood vessel dimensions in asthma
N G Carroll1, C Cooke, A L James
1Department of Pulmonary Physiology, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia.
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
|February 1, 1997
Summary
In asthma patients, particularly those with fatal asthma, larger blood vessels in airway walls increase, while smaller vessels decrease. Overall blood vessel density in the airway submucosa remains consistent across asthma severity and control groups.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Pathology
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Airway wall thickening is a hallmark of asthma.
- The contribution of bronchial vasculature to this thickening, especially in different airway sizes, remains poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the number and area of blood vessels within the airway submucosa.
- To compare these vascular parameters in patients with and without asthma, and across different asthma severity levels.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the monoclonal antibody Factor VIII to identify and measure blood vessels.
- Focused on the submucosa, between the airway basement membrane and smooth muscle border.
- Analyzed large cartilaginous and small airways.
Main Results:
- In fatal asthma cases, large airway submucosa showed increased numbers and areas of large blood vessels but decreased small blood vessels.
- Total blood vessel number and area per submucosal area were similar across fatal asthma, nonfatal asthma, and control groups.
- Blood vessels were found to be distended, occupying 80% of their estimated maximal area.
Conclusions:
- Increased large vessels in fatal asthma may indicate vascular congestion during severe attacks.
- Similar submucosal vascular density suggests vessel proliferation is proportional to airway wall expansion in asthma.
- Submucosal vessels are unlikely to significantly alter airway wall thickness by acting as capacitance vessels.