Asthma in the Workplace
Introduction Work-related asthma (WRA) is a major public health concern due to its high prevalence and societal burden. WRA is a broad term indicating that asthma is worsened by the…
Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis
Introduction Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), also known as extrinsic allergic alveolitis, constitutes a spectrum of granulomatous, interstitial, bronchiolar, and alveolar-filling lung diseases resulting from repeated inhalation of and sensitization to a…
Pulmonary Edema
Introduction Pulmonary edema—defined as excessive extravascular water in the lungs—is a common and serious clinical problem. Pulmonary edema can be life-threatening, but effective therapy is available to rescue patients from…
Positron Emission Tomography
Introduction Positron emission tomography (PET) with 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is a noninvasive imaging technique with several important applications in respiratory medicine. PET has long been used to evaluate inflammatory conditions…
Bronchiolitis and Other Intrathoracic Airway Disorders
Introduction Previous chapters focused on the major diseases affecting primarily the intrathoracic airways. These diseases include asthma, bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, and bronchiectasis. Less common entities also primarily affect airways. Unlike…
Asthma: Pathogenesis and Phenotypes
Introduction Asthma is a common disease whose prevalence has increased throughout the world for several decades. For many years the major focus of asthma investigations and treatment was on allergic…
COPD: Clinical Diagnosis and Management
Introduction and History Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as it is currently defined, is a spectrum of lung abnormalities characterized physiologically by persistent airflow obstruction. The histologic abnormalities seen most…
Upper Airway Disorders
Introduction The upper airway ranges from the nares to the subglottis and includes diverse anatomic structures with a wide variety of functions. Along with assisting in respiration, the structures of…
Tuberculosis
Introduction Mycobacteria have played an extremely important role in influencing society throughout history. Tuberculosis and Hansen disease (leprosy), the two most prominent mycobacterial diseases, have been recognized as scourges of…
COPD: Pathogenesis and Natural History
Introduction Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a condition characterized by persistent airflow limitation that is usually progressive and is associated with a chronic enhanced inflammatory response in the airways…
