respiratory:start
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Respiratory Pharmacology
pharmacology respiratory
Respiratory pharmacology is divided by WHAT is diseased:
AIRFLOW PROBLEM → treat the airway (bronchodilators & inhaled steroids)
SCARRING PROBLEM → treat the lung tissue (antifibrotics & immunosuppression)
Airway Disease (Obstructive)
Reversible airflow limitation → bronchodilation + anti-inflammation
Core Conditions
Bronchodilators
Controllers
Severe Asthma (Biologics)
Symptom Therapy
Parenchymal Disease (Restrictive)
Irreversible tissue injury → fibrosis or immune-mediated inflammation
Interstitial Lung Disease
Antifibrotic Therapy
Immune-Mediated Lung Disease Treatment
Bronchodilators treat obstruction Antifibrotics slow scarring
They do NOT overlap.
High-Yield Comparison
| Feature | Obstructive Disease | Restrictive Disease |
|---|---|---|
| Primary issue | Narrow airways | Scarred alveoli |
| Reversibility | Often reversible | Progressive |
| Main therapy | Bronchodilators ± ICS | Antifibrotics / Immunosuppression |
| Clinical goal | Improve airflow | Slow decline |
This page is organized by disease physiology to match clinical reasoning and board exam logic.
respiratory/start.1771165146.txt.gz · Last modified: by andrew2393cns