Asthma and airways collapse in two heritable disorders of connective tissue (abstract)

Asthma and airways collapse in two heritable disorders of connective tissue by A W Morgan, S B Pearson, S Davies, H C Gooi and H A Bird

The purpose of this study  was to investigate whether “there was an increased prevalence of respiratory disorders in both the Hypermobility Syndrome (HMS)/Benign Joint Hypermobility Syndrome (BJHS) and Ehlers–Danlos Syndrome (EDS), compared with the normal population.”

The study concluded that there was: “a significant increase in the frequency of a wide range of respiratory symptoms and reduced exercise tolerance. “   These included “asthmatic symptoms….and atopy….. Pulmonary physiological studies revealed increased lung volumes, impaired gas exchange and an increased tendency of both the lower and upper airways to collapse.”   The study went on to state that  “individuals with HMS/BJHS and EDS have respiratory symptoms in association with various pulmonary physiological abnormalities. The increased … asthma may be due to linkage disequilibrium between the genes causing these conditions or a function of the connective tissue defect itself. In the non-asthmatic population, changes in the mechanical properties of the bronchial airways and lung parenchyma may underlie the observed increased tendency of the airways to collapse.”

(the full abstract is located here)

(and the text of the full article can be ordered here)