The Biochemical Pharmacology Discussion Group
The New York Academy of Sciences
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DONATEPosted June 28, 2019
Asthma is a chronic, heterogeneous inflammatory disease of the airways, affecting approximately 300 million people worldwide. Presently, asthma is believed to have a multifactorial diagnosis that includes several underlying diseases or endotypes. While various forms of asthma have common observable symptoms, or phenotypes, such as wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath, the diversity of endotypes gives rise to a variety of other phenotypes. Severe asthma, for example, is defined as an uncontrolled or only partially controlled form of asthma despite intensive treatment and is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and consumption of health care resources. It is therefore unsurprising that there is no cure-all medication to treat asthma. However, novel insights into the pathophysiology of severe asthma, airway inflammation, and mechanisms of lung repair and remodeling may lead to new therapeutic approaches. Learn more in this summary of our April 26, 2019 symposium.