Bronchiectasis is a disease characterized by thick-walled bronchi that are
inflamed or abnormally dilated and chronically infected with bacteria.
Symptoms include cough and daily mucopurulent sputum production. Significant morbidity and mortality are associated with the condition. Historically, children developed bronchiectasis following a severe respiratory infection, such as tuberculosis or pneumonia. As vaccines and antibiotics became available, and childhood diseases were brought under control, the prevalence of non-cystic fibrosis (non-CF) bronchiectasis in children living in developed countries declined. Today, non-CF bronchiectasis continues to be a significant public health problem among children in less-developed areas, with age of onset in the first decade of life. It is also a serious health issue in older adults in developed countries, with age of onset between 60 and 80 years of age. In terms of gender and race, the disorder is more prevalent and appears to be more virulent among older, white women in western societies.
These patients often present with non-TB mycobacteria. The diagnosis and management of the disease has evolved with the use of high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans. This relatively non-invasive technique has replaced bronchography as the gold standard for diagnosis. Pathological findings from HRCT scans have been shown to be correlated with severe bronchiectasis requiring surgical intervention in adult patients.
Questions remain about whether non-CF bronchiectasis in adults is a result of intrinsic defects or extrinsic insults that predispose the bronchi to inflammation and infections. Development of a comprehensive patient registry for non-CF bronchiectasis patients will facilitate research into the etiology of this condition. Through use of the Registry, patterns of characteristics of patients suffering from the condition are easily identified for exploratory or hypothesis-generating research. The registry will also aid in the planning of therapeutic clinical trials through information about the numbers of patients available who satisfy certain inclusion/exclusion criteria as well as information on background rates of certain concomitant illnesses or use of medications.
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Symptoms include cough and daily mucopurulent sputum production. Significant morbidity and mortality are associated with the condition. Historically, children developed bronchiectasis following a severe respiratory infection, such as tuberculosis or pneumonia. As vaccines and antibiotics became available, and childhood diseases were brought under control, the prevalence of non-cystic fibrosis (non-CF) bronchiectasis in children living in developed countries declined. Today, non-CF bronchiectasis continues to be a significant public health problem among children in less-developed areas, with age of onset in the first decade of life. It is also a serious health issue in older adults in developed countries, with age of onset between 60 and 80 years of age. In terms of gender and race, the disorder is more prevalent and appears to be more virulent among older, white women in western societies.
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These patients often present with non-TB mycobacteria. The diagnosis and management of the disease has evolved with the use of high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans. This relatively non-invasive technique has replaced bronchography as the gold standard for diagnosis. Pathological findings from HRCT scans have been shown to be correlated with severe bronchiectasis requiring surgical intervention in adult patients.
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Questions remain about whether non-CF bronchiectasis in adults is a result of intrinsic defects or extrinsic insults that predispose the bronchi to inflammation and infections. Development of a comprehensive patient registry for non-CF bronchiectasis patients will facilitate research into the etiology of this condition. Through use of the Registry, patterns of characteristics of patients suffering from the condition are easily identified for exploratory or hypothesis-generating research. The registry will also aid in the planning of therapeutic clinical trials through information about the numbers of patients available who satisfy certain inclusion/exclusion criteria as well as information on background rates of certain concomitant illnesses or use of medications.
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Emmons EE, Ouellette DR. Bronchiectasis. http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic246.htm : 2007.
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Li AM, Sonnappa S, Lex C, Wong E, Zacharasiewicz A, Bush A, Jaffe A. Non-CF bronchiectasis: does knowing the aetiology lead to changes in management? Eur Respir J 26: 8-14, 2005.
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Morrissey BM, Harper RW. Bronchiectasis: sex and gender considerations. Clin Chest Med 25(2): 361-72, 2004.
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Eastham KM, Fall AJ, Mitchell L, Spencer DA. The need to redefine non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis in childhood. Thorax 59: 324-327, 2004.
