PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - P A B Wark
AU  - P G Gibson
TI  - Asthma exacerbations · 3: Pathogenesis
AID  - 10.1136/thx.2005.045187
DP  - 2006 Oct 01
TA  - Thorax
PG  - 909--915
VI  - 61
IP  - 10
4099  - http://thorax.bmj.com/content/61/10/909.short
4100  - http://thorax.bmj.com/content/61/10/909.full
SO  - Thorax2006 Oct 01; 61
AB  - Asthma exacerbations are an exaggerated lower airway response to an environmental exposure. Respiratory virus infection is the most common environmental exposure to cause a severe asthma exacerbation. Airway inflammation is a key part of the lower airway response in asthma exacerbation, and occurs together with airflow obstruction and increased airway responsiveness. The patterns of airway inflammation differ according to the trigger factor responsible for the exacerbation. The reasons for the exaggerated response of asthmatic airways are not completely understood, but recent studies have identified a deficient epithelial type 1 interferon response as an important susceptibility mechanism for viral infection.