Pulmonology · Overview · 2 min read
Asthma
Asthma is reversible airflow obstruction with bronchial hyperresponsiveness and chronic airway inflammation. Stepwise therapy anchored on inhaled corticosteroids controls symptoms; biologics rescue severe eosinophilic and allergic phenotypes.
Key points
- Spirometry: FEV1/FVC below 0.7 with FEV1 reversibility of at least 12% after short-acting beta-agonist.
- GINA initial therapy: low-dose ICS-formoterol as needed; daily maintenance for poor control.
- Goal: fewer than 2 daytime symptom episodes per week and zero nocturnal awakenings.
- Severe exacerbation: prednisone 50 mg daily for 5 days; IV magnesium 2 g if PEF below 40%.
- Severe eosinophilic asthma: mepolizumab reduces exacerbation rate by approximately 50%.
Exam relevance
USMLE Step 2PLAB 2MRCP
This overview distills an evidence-graded article whose claims are traced to guideline-tier references (GINA, ATS, and specialty-society guidance) inside the full ClinIQ Library version.
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