Asthma and COPD agents

Abstract

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are disorders of airway inflammation that are characterized by airflow obstruction. These disease entities demonstrate similar spirometric characteristics including FEV1/FVC <70 % and FEV1 <80 %, with asthma demonstrating reversibility of obstruction with bronchodilator therapy [1, 2]. There is much overlap in the pharmacologic management between asthma and COPD. In both diseases, acute attacks may be treated with inhaled and intravenous β2 agonists, inhaled anticholinergics, and systemic corticosteroids, while chronic management can be accomplished with inhaled agents (short and long-acting β2 agonists, anticholinergics, or glucocorticoids) or methylxanthines. Chronic management of asthmatic patients can also include mast cell stabilizers, leukotriene modifiers, and immunomodulators, while that of COPD patients may include PDE-4 inhibitors. A brief summary of the impact of anesthetic agents on the patient with asthma is included.