A longterm
study has shown a decrease in the basement membrane size
in a group of patients with asthma treated according to their level
of airway hyperreactivity. In COPD, ICSs generally do not decrease
neutrophils, macrophages, and CD8 T lymphocytes. The effects of
these drugs on structural changes in COPD have not been investigated
extensively. Long-term prospective studies are needed to
demonstrate the potential for ICSs to affect the natural history of
chronic bronchial diseases.
Keywords: endobronchial biopsy; epithelial integrity; reticular basement
membrane; vascularity