[Bronchial asthma: extrinsic, intrinsic or mixed?].

The term "bronchial asthma" does not describe a single disease but a syndrome with similar symptoms but different etiology. The differences between the several manifestations of asthma have diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic implications. According to clinical criteria atopic-allergic, intrinsic, occupational and mixed-type asthma can be differentiated. The separation into these different groups was initially based on clinical evaluation but is now supported by recent immunologic studies which have found basic differences as well as common features between these manifestations of asthma. To neglect this important diagnostic differentiation, as has been incorrectly proposed in recent years, will impair our understanding of the clinical appearance as well as the pathogenesis of asthma and can lead to inappropriate therapy.