Archivos de bronconeumología
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Despite the numerous guidelines and treatments available for asthma, the disease remains poorly controlled in some patients, who remain symptomatic, are a considerable burden on the health system, and account for most of the hospitalizations due to asthma. Bronchial thermoplasty is a novel experimental therapeutic option that consists of delivering radiofrequency-generated heat to the airways via a catheter inserted in the bronchial tree through a flexible bronchoscope to reduce smooth muscle quantity and contractility. ⋯ Subsequently, 2 randomized clinical trials designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of thermoplasty in patients with moderate to severe asthma with a 1-year follow-up period showed the procedure to be safe, with mostly transient adverse affects and several clinical benefits. Although results from ongoing clinical trials are still awaited, thermoplasty may become an innovative therapeutic approach to asthma.
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We compare the inspiratory and expiratory regional lung densities between different levels of COPD severity (as assessed by the GOLD scale and by the BODE index), and to assess the relationship between regional lung densities and functional lung parameters. ⋯ There are differences in lung attenuation measurements by HRCT between the varying levels of COPD severity as assessed by the GOLD scale.