Approaches to studying the pathogenesis of asthma

Samapon Duangkham MD, Nicole Welch MD, Myrian Noella Vinan Vega MD, Sima Shahbandar MD, James A. Tarbox MD

ABSTRACT

A phenotype describes a group of patients who present with similar clinically observable characteristics. An endotype is a subgroup of patients who share the same pathophysiologic processes that lead to disease presentation. Asthma is a complex chronic disorder that consists of many identifiable phenotypes and two generally accepted endotypes. Understanding the characteristics of the underlying inflammation requires lung biopsies or bronchoalveolar lavage studies, which are invasive and potentially dangerous. There are ongoing investigations that study biomarkers to define asthma phenotypes and endotypes. This article reviews the potential utility of pharmacogenomics, exhaled breath condensates, and serum biomarkers in defining asthma phenotypes and endotypes.

Keywords: asthma, pathogenesis, pharmacogenetics, exhaled condensates, biomarkers

Article citation: Duangkham S, Welch N, Vinan Vega MN, Shahbandar S, Tarbox JA. Approaches to studying the pathogenesis of asthma. The Southwest Respiratory and Critical Care Chronicles 2022;10(42):7–11
From: Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas
Submitted: 9/3/2021
Accepted: 1/8/2022
Conflicts of interest: none
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