Pulmonary agents reactivity

The benefits of the use of (3-blockade appear to exceed by far the risks of bronchospasm in patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COED) and/or suppression of hypoglycemic responses in diabetics. COPD is very different from bronchospas-tic asthma. Young people with asthma have highly reactive airways and can die within hours of a bronchospasm in response to an exposure to an external agent. This highly reversible dynamic condition contrasts sharply with the destruction of connective tissue in lung parenchyma and dead airway sacs that are not very reactive. This is a very different phenomenon. 

Chronic use of inhaled corticosteroids effectively reduces symptoms and improves pulmonary function in patients with mild asthma. Such use also reduces or eliminates the need for oral corticosteroids in patients with more severe disease. In contrast to B-stimulant agents and theophylline, chronic use of inhaled corticosteroids reduces bronchial reactivity. Because of the... 

Diller, 1985 Ohio et al, 1991). Pulmonary injury is exacerbated by elevated levels of leukotrienes and neutrophil chemotactic agents. The neutrophils release cytokines and other reactive mediators worsening pulmonary injury (Ohio et al, 1991 Sciuto et al, 1995). Localized emphysema and partial atelectasis occur. Death is from anoxia secondary to pulmonary edema (Borak and Diller, 2001 Proctor and Hughes, 2004). 

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