CHRONIC BRONCHIAL OBSTRUCTION IN ASTHMA A ND ITS REVERSIBLE COMPONENT

In between acute attacks, asthma is responsible for obstructive ventil atory disorders (OVD) which are observed in two circumstances: latent OVD of asthma in remission, which essentially raise the problem of the ir detection and prevention, and chronic OVD of severe asthma, resulti ng from the multiple consequences of the inflammatory reaction. These OVD are the result of a whole series of histopathological changes affe cting not only bronchial structures, but also all of the pulmonary par enchyma. These situations are usually due to poorly adapted treatment and raise the problem of whether or not they are fixed and irreducible . Determination of the reversible component of these OVD is difficult, and their treatment is often disappointing, as constituted bronchial obstruction appears to be partially or completely irreversible. This i llustrates the importance of preventive measures, whose early applicat ion should prevent progression to these terminal stages in the majorit y of cases of asthma.