Chronic inflammatory disorders

The events described above demonstrate the complexity and fine balance between various processes resulting in either resolution or enhancement of inflammation. Failure to control one or more of these, and possibly other presently unknown, regulatory mechanisms may lead to chronic activation of the immune system resulting in chronic inflammatory diseases. 

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Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory disorder that typically affects the central facial area. 

O Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways in which many cells and cellular elements play a role. 

The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) defines asthma as a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways in which many cells and cellular elements play a role. In susceptible individuals, inflammation causes recurrent episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing. These episodes are usually associated with airflow obstruction that is often reversible either spontaneously or with treatment. The inflammation also causes an increase in bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) to a variety of stimuli. 

No longer is asthma considered a condition with isolated, acute episodes of bronchospasm. Rather, asthma is now understood to be a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways—that is, inflammation makes the airways chronically sensitive. When these hyperrespon-sive airways are irritated, airflow is limited, and attacks of coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and breathing difficulty occur. 

In chronic inflammatory disorders there is a general over-activation of the immune system, the cause of which is often unknown. In all of these diseases, an increased number of infiltrated immune cells can be found in the inflamed tissues. Furthermore, increased expression of adhesion molecules on the endothelium can often be observed, although the adhesion molecules are expressed differentially in the various diseases. 

The same may hold true for the different stages in endothelial cell activation during flare-ups in chronic inflammatory disorders. Therefore, the use of a combination of different drug targeting preparations aimed at disease stage-specific epitopes is likely to be a prerequisite for targeting endothelial cells at various stages of activation. 

Asthma is considered as a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways. This inflammation causes recurrent episodes of symptoms, variable airflow limitation, and increased airway responsiveness. Prevention of asthma involves both the prevention of the initial development of asthma (= primary prevention) and the prevention of exacerbation in patients with asthma (= secondary prevention). Primary prevention methods include reducing exposure to indoor allergens, particularly domestic mites, avoidance of passive smoking, especially by infants, and avoidance of vehicle emission pollutants, largely from incomplete combustion of petrol by car engines. 

Bradykinin antagonists of the B2 receptor are currently in development and may find utility in the treatment of pain associated with burns and such chronic inflammatory disorders as arthritis, asthma, and chronic pain. 

The medical and scientific communities have recognized that asthma is not simply a disease marked by acute bronchospasm but rather a complex chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways. On the basis of this knowledge, antiinflammatory agents, particularly corticosteroids, are now included in the treatment regimens of an ever-increasing proportion of asthmatic patients. 

By screening compound libraries, selective antagonists for the chemokine CCR3 receptor have been identified these contain arylpiperidine motifs linked by a 3-6 carbon tether to a second aromatic group. Such compounds may have utility in treating chronic inflammatory disorders such as bronchial asthma. 

NSAIDs are groups of unrelated organic acids such as mefenamic acid, which have analgesic, antiinflammatory, and antipyretic activities. NSAIDs are used to relieve mild to moderate pain, raised temperature, and acute and chronic inflammatory disorders such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile chronic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. NSAIDs are applied locally for the relief of muscular pain and are useful in ophthalmic preparations for inflammatory eye disorders.1-4 NSAIDs have been used to relieve pain, particularly in cancer patients, forming a cornerstone in pain management. NSAIDs also are used... 

Salzman (3) determined that inosine derivatives, (III), were effective in regulating IL-12 levels and used in the treatment of chronic inflammatory disorders such as inflammatory bowel, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn s disease. 

Atherosclerosis is now regarded as a chronic inflammatory disorder as opposed to one of lipid storage. 

Various studies by a number of different laboratories have implicated NO as an important modulator of a variety of acute and chronic inflammatory disorders [50-52]. 

Azathioprine, a prodrug converted to 6-mercaptopurine, is widely used as a post-transplant immunosuppressant and in various autoimmune or chronic inflammatory disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis, dermatomyositis, systemic lupus eiythematosus, skin diseases, and inflammatory bowel diseases. 

Cyclophosphamide is an alkylating nitrogen mustard derivative mainly used in oncology patients (1) or in conditioning regimens for bone marrow transplantation. Its immunosuppressant properties have been used in organ transplantation and more often in chronic inflammatory disorders or autoimmune diseases. 

Inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and Crohn s disease) is a general term for a group of chronic inflammatory disorders of unknown cause involving the gastrointestinal tract. Despite many attempts to confirm an infectious agent as the cause of disease, no bacterial. 

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