[Bronchial asthma. Treatment in relation to physiopathology and bronchial hyperreactivity].

Inflammation is a characteristic feature of the pathophysiology of bronchial asthma. Therefore, long-term treatment with anti-inflammatory medication such as inhaled steroids and cromoglycate is now favoured in asthma. Short-acting adrenergic beta 2-agonists inhibiting early response after inhaled allergen provocation do not influence late reaction or inflammation. Bronchial hyperreactivity, which is a consistent characteristic of asthma, is related to late reaction. This review deals with current knowledge on bronchial hyperreactivity, and on the pathophysiology and the treatment of asthma.