MANAGEMENT OF SEVERE EXACERBATIONS OF ASTHMA

Asthma is a common disease that afflicts as many as 5% of Americans. S evere exacerbations of asthma can be life-threatening if not treated a ggressively. Despite publication of therapeutic guidelines developed b y experts in this field, the clinical management of severe exacerbatio ns of asthma varies widely among institutions and practitioners. This article briefly reviews the pathophysiology of asthma and outlines a s ystematic, mechanistic approach to treating patients with severe asthm a that integrates many clinical advancements made during the past 5 to 10 years.