Bronchiolar disorders with airflow obstruction

Bronchiolar lesions continue to be increasingly recognized as a cause of airflow obstruction. Thus, it is important to have a current update of the current clinical, radiographic, and immunologic perspective of these disorders. Diffuse panbronchiolitis has been reported to occur in the United States and Europe, and the anti-inflammatory action of erythromycin appears to be effective in management. Idiopathic bronchiolitis obliterans, post-fume or post-infectious, or connective tissue disorder bronchiolitis obliterans continues to be rare and often has a poor prognosis. Lung transplantation bronchiolitis obliterans continues to be the major complication and cause of mortality in transplant recipients. Risk factors of this form of chronic rejection include more frequent and more severe acute rejection and the coexistence of organizing pneumonia. The recognition of the distinctive differences among the bronchiolar airflow disorders continues to be essential for improved patient care, greater understanding of the pathogenesis, and development of therapeutic advances.