European Journal of Clinical Investigation

Background? Asthma is a disorder of the conducting airways that contract too easily and too much to cause variable airflow obstruction with symptoms of wheeze, cough, chest tightness and shortness of breath. Based on this knowledge, initial treatments were directed to dilating the contracted airways with anticholinergic and adrenergic drugs. The recognition that allergic-type inflammation underlay the hyperresponsive airways in asthma led to the introduction of anti-inflammatory drugs such as sodium cromoglicate and corticosteroids. Over the 2 decades that followed, these drugs have been progressively improved by increasing their therapeutic index and duration of action.<br/><br/>Methods? A review…