Allergen induced changes in bronchial hyperresponsiveness. A clinical and immunohistological study

Asthma is characterised by episodic, variable airflow-obstruction and increased responsiveness of the airways to a variety of stimuli. Moreover, asthma is not a single disease entity but should be considered as a group of disorders which have in common the clinical manifestations of variable airways obstruction and hyperresponsiveness. The list of agents that can provoke bronchoconstriction, sometimes called "triggers" of asthma, is long and includes not only the antigens but also a wide variety of materials that appear unlikely to act through an immunological mechanism. ... Zie: Summary and general discussion