Bronchiectasis and asthma: a dangerous liaison?

Purpose of review To explore the latest insight of the literature on the asthma/bronchiectasis phenotype providing an updated overview about epidemiological, clinical and biological evidence linking these two conditions. Recent findings An increasing body of literature has shown that the association of asthma and bronchiectasis is a frequent phenomenon leading to a more severe disease with frequent exacerbations. The mechanisms by which the two diseases are linked are still not well established but they share several clinical and immunological features and many comorbidities. Summary The early identification of bronchiectasis through high-definition computer tomography in patients with severe asthma is crucial in order to provide an adequate treatment for both diseases and therefore to better control symptoms, exacerbations and infections. Correspondence to Nunzio Crimi, MD, Respiratory Medicine Unit, A.O.U. 'Policlinico - Vittorio Emanuele', Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia, 78, 95123 Catania, Italy. Tel/. fax: +0953781423; e-mail: crimi@unict.it Copyright © 2018 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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