Annual Congress Amsterdam 2011

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Small airways: important in COPD and severe asthma

Symposium
Chairs: P. J. Barnes (London, United Kingdom), P. J. Sterk (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
Aims: The objective of this session is to increase knowledge and awareness on the topic of small airways in asthma and in COPD. Therefore, the session will include an overview of the role of small airways in the pathophysiology of asthma and COPD in general and in specific phenotypes. A lecture will focus on the need of parameters different from the forced expiratory volume in 1s to assess small airways impairment. Finally, a review of the studies demonstrating the added benefit of treatments able to also reach the distal lung in the management of asthma and COPD patients will close the session.

The role of small airways in asthma pathophysiology Q. Hamid (Montreal, Canada)
Assessing small airways impairment: techniques and parameters O. Usmani (London, United Kingdom)
Clinical relevance and implication for therapy D. S. Postma (Groningen, The Netherlands)