The Pathogenesis of Bronchiectasis

Mark L Metersky; Alan F Barker

doi:10.1016/j.ccm.2021.11.003

The Pathogenesis of Bronchiectasis

Clin Chest Med. 2022 Mar;43(1):35-46. doi: 10.1016/j.ccm.2021.11.003.

Authors

Mark L Metersky¹, Alan F Barker²

Affiliations

¹ Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030-1321, USA. Electronic address: Metersky@uchc.edu.
² Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, UHN-67, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA.

PMID: 35236559
DOI: 10.1016/j.ccm.2021.11.003

Abstract

Bronchiectasis is a condition defined by permanently dilated airways and characterized by chronic cough and sputum and in many patients, recurrent exacerbations. Bronchiectasis is a heterogeneous condition, with numerous underlying risk factors and initiating conditions. These factors share in common the ability to impair the mechanisms by which the airways are protected from inflammatory or infectious insults. These underlying factors result in chronic bacterial infection of the airways, inciting a host inflammatory response in which the airways are the collateral damage. The damaged airways are unable to clear the infection, leading to ongoing inflammation and progressive damage.

Keywords: Bronchiectasis; Inflammation; Mucus; Polymorphonuclear leukocyte; Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Bronchiectasis* / etiology
Cough
Graft vs Host Disease*
Humans
Inflammation
Persistent Infection