RESUMO
We have investigated whether mast cells are associated with bronchodilator responsiveness and airway vascular changes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) airways. We have previously shown that the reticular basement membrane is hypervascular and the lamina propria is hypovascular in COPD. Bronchial biopsies from 32 COPD subjects, 15 smokers with normal lung function and 17 controls, were immunostained for factor VIII, mast cell tryptase and chymase antibodies. Mast cells in the airway smooth muscle, the reticular basement membrane and the underlying lamina propria were quantitated. 41% of COPD subjects had significant bronchodilator responsiveness, but this was not related to smooth muscle mast cell numbers. The reticular basement membrane had greater mast cell density in all groups compared with controls (p<0.01). In this compartment, perivascular mast cell density was related to hypervascularity. Lamina propria mast cell density was increased only in COPD (p<0.05). Perivascular mast cell density in the lamina propria was not related to its decreased vessel density. Bronchodilator responsiveness in COPD is not related to large airway smooth muscle mast cells of either type; both reticular basement membrane and lamina propria mast cells are increased in COPD patients, and perivascular mast cells may be involved in increased angiogenesis in the reticular basement membrane.
Assuntos
Broncodilatadores/uso terapêutico , Mastócitos/efeitos dos fármacos , Doença Pulmonar Obstrutiva Crônica/tratamento farmacológico , Adulto , Idoso , Asma/tratamento farmacológico , Asma/fisiopatologia , Membrana Basal/química , Membrana Basal/patologia , Brônquios/irrigação sanguínea , Quimases/análise , Fator VIII/análise , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Mastócitos/patologia , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Músculo Liso/química , Neovascularização Patológica/patologia , Doença Pulmonar Obstrutiva Crônica/patologia , Fumar/efeitos adversos , Triptases/análise , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Giant cell arteritis can result in a wide range of symptoms due to the extensive distribution of the external carotid artery. Face and neck swelling and trismus are under-recognised features of giant cell arteritis and can present as the initial symptom prior to the development of classical temporal tenderness and jaw claudication. The lack of awareness of the less common symptoms may result in a late diagnosis of giant cell arteritis, leading to irreversible vision loss. In this paper, we present a case of neck swelling and airway narrowing as the initial manifestation of giant cell arteritis.