Chronic inflammation in asthma

It is now widely accepted that chronic airway inflammation plays a key role in asthma [1]. This fundamental feature has been included in the most recent definitions of the disease: hence the Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention reports that "asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways in which many cell types play a role, in particular mast cells, eosinophils and T-lymphocytes. In susceptible individuals the inflammation causes recurrent episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness and cough, particularly at night and/or early morning. These symptoms are usually associated with widespread but variable airflow obstruction that is at least partly reversible either spontaneously or with treatment. The inflammation also causes an associated increase in airway responsiveness to a variety of stimuli" [2]. Based on this consensus all treatment guidelines focus on the importance of anti-inflammatory drugs (mainly inhaled corticosteroids) to control the disease process [2, 3].