Effect of CPAP on airway reactivity and airway inflammation in children with moderate–severe asthma

摘要

Background and objective:Asthma is characterized by airway hyperreactivity and airway inflammation. We previously demonstrated that adults with mild well-controlled asthma exhibited a marked decrease in airway reactivity (PC20 increased >2-fold) after using nocturnal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for 1 week. If CPAP produces a similar suppression of airway reactivity in children with moderate–severe asthma, who require chronic use of corticosteroids, then this non-pharmacological therapy might provide a beneficial alternative or supplemental therapy in these subjects.