Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors.
Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker.
Bronchiectasis
Permanent enlargement of the lung airways
Medical condition
Bronchiectasis
Figure A shows a cross-section of the lungs with normal airways and widened airways. Figure B shows a cross-section of a normal airway. Figure C shows a cross-section of an airway with bronchiectasis.
Bronchiectasis may result from a number of infectious and acquired causes, including measles,[11]pneumonia, tuberculosis, immune system problems, as well as the genetic disorder cystic fibrosis.[12][3][13] Cystic fibrosis eventually results in severe bronchiectasis in nearly all cases.[14] The cause in 10–50% of those without cystic fibrosis is unknown.[3] The mechanism of disease is breakdown of the airways due to an excessive inflammatory response.[3] Involved airways (bronchi) become enlarged and thus less able to clear secretions.[3] These secretions increase the amount of bacteria in the lungs, resulting in airway blockage and further breakdown of the airways.[3] It is classified as an obstructive lung disease, along with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma.[15] The diagnosis is suspected based on symptoms and confirmed using computed tomography.[7]Cultures of the mucus produced may be useful to determine treatment in those who have acute worsening and at least once a year.[7]
The disease affects between 1 per 1000 and 1 per 250,000 adults.[10] The disease is more common in women and increases as people age.[3] It became less common since the 1950s with the introduction of antibiotics.[10] It is more common among certain ethnic groups (such as indigenous people in the US).[10] It was first described by René Laennec in 1819.[3] The economic costs in the United States are estimated at $630 million per year.[3]
^ abCorris, PA (Jun 2013). "Lung transplantation for cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis". Seminars in Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 34 (3): 297–304. doi:10.1055/s-0033-1348469. PMID23821505. S2CID32614762.
^Nicki R. Colledge; Brian R. Walker; Stuart H. Ralston, eds. (2010). Davidson's principles and practice of medicine. illustrated by Robert Britton (21st ed.). Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier. ISBN978-0-7020-3085-7.