Med. praxi. 2014;11(5):200-203

Some diagnostic aspects of bronchial asthma

MUDr.Irena Krčmová, CSc., MUDr.Jakub Novosad, Ph.D.

Ústav klinické imunologie a alergologie

Univerzita Karlova v Praze, Lékařská fakulta a Fakultní nemocnice Hradec Králové

Individual asthma phenotypes are characterized by a different type of bronchial inflammation and present with distinct clinical features,

a different response to anti-inflammatory pharmacotherapy, and a different course and prognosis. The combination of current classifications

(severity, type of mucosal inflammation, and control achievement) provides a relatively precise presentation of the disease

and prognosis in an asthma sufferer. The diagnosis includes the degree of breathing disorder, reversibility of bronchial obstruction,

exhaled nitric oxide testing prior to treatment (or during its course), and triggers of asthma attacks. The diagnosis is supplemented by

complicating comorbidities. This is not a definitive text, but a dynamic description of the disease. Bronchomotor tests linked to FeNO

testing have separated a group of patients that exhibit symptoms of both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Hence,

the term "overlap syndrome" (an overlap of COPD genotype with asthma) or the acronym ACOS (asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary

disease overlap syndrome) are encountered.

Keywords: bronchial asthma, diagnosis, classification, ACOS

Published: September 10, 2014  Show citation