asthma and infectious disease

[Guest guest]

> > ---------------

> ASTHMA AS INFECTIOUS DISEASE

> , M.D., and his colleagues will deliver several

presentations on the links between asthma and bacterial infections. Dr.

has previously reported that more than half of 55 patients with

chronic stable asthma showed evidence of bacterial infections in their

airways. At the conference, Dr. and his colleagues report that

infection by Mycoplasma pneumoniae is associated with several biochemical

and physiological measures of asthma severity. They also report that

treatment by the antibiotic clarithromycin reduces airway inflammation

associated with bacterial infections in asthmatic patients. Additional

evidence suggests that M. pneumoniae infection might also contribute to the

development of asthma.

>

> For more on Dr. and his investigation of asthma and infections,

visit http://www.nationaljewish.org/faculty/martin.html.

> ---------------

> DEEP IN THE LUNGS OF ASTHMATICS

> Most of the attention in asthma has been paid to constriction,

inflammation, and hyperresponsiveness in patients’ large airways. Sally

Wenzel, M.D., reports that 10 patients with severe and uncontrolled asthma

showed evidence of greater inflammation in the small airways deep inside the

lungs than in the large airways. The findings are likely to alter concepts

about the development of the disease and ways to treat it.

>

> To learn more about Dr. Wenzel and her work, visit

http://www.nationaljewish.org/faculty/wenzel.html.