Fatal asthma in a young patient with severe bronchial hyperresponsiveness but stable peak flow records.
Eur Respir J
; 2(10): 1008-12, 1989 Nov.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-2606186
ABSTRACT
We report the sudden death of a 16 yr old boy with asthma. At presentation, the patient had symptoms of active asthma, mild bronchoconstriction, severe airway hyperresponsiveness to methacholine, and increased variability of peak expiratory flow records. After the patient was placed on inhaled beclomethasone (1 mg b.i.d preceded by inhaled fenoterol 0.4 mg b.i.d) he rapidly felt better, lung function improved, but airway responsiveness remained severe. Four months later, on the day he died, he was well until a fatal attack of asthma occurred around midnight without identifiable precipitating factors. Taken to hospital, he was dead on arrival. Necroscopy and microscopy showed the characteristic features of asthma death. This case report suggests that; a) asthma death may occur suddenly and unexpectedly; b) asthma death may not be prevented by long-term treatment with high-dose inhaled beclomethasone; c) severe bronchial hyperresponsiveness, even in the presence of stable peak flow records, may identify asthmatic patients at risk of sudden death.
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Asma
/
Morte Súbita
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Adolescent
/
Humans
/
Male
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Eur Respir J
Ano de publicação:
1989
Tipo de documento:
Article