Approaches to studying the pathogenesis of asthma

Abstract

A phenotype describes a group of patients who present with similar clinically observable characteristics. An endotype is a subgroup of patients who share the same pathophysiologic processes that lead to disease presentation. Asthma is a complex chronic disorder that consists of many identifiable phenotypes and two generally accepted endotypes. Understanding the characteristics of the underlying inflammation requires lung biopsies or bronchoalveolar lavage studies, which are invasive and potentially dangerous. There are ongoing investigations that study biomarkers to define asthma phenotypes and endotypes. This article reviews the potential utility of pharmacogenomics, exhaled breath condensates, and serum biomarkers in defining asthma phenotypes and endotypes.

Key words: asthma, pathogenesis, pharmacogenetics, exhaled condensates, biomarkers