RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Evaluation of airway wall thickness via high resolution computerized tomography (HRCT) in mild intermittent asthma JF Respiratory Care FD American Association for Respiratory Care SP respcare.02780 DO 10.4187/respcare.02780 A1 Selvi Asker A1 Muntecep Asker A1 Bulent Ozbay YR 2013 UL http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/early/2013/10/08/respcare.02780.abstract AB Introduction: This study aims to evaluate bronchial thickness via thorax HRCT in subjects with mild intermittent asthma in comparison to healthy control subjects. Methods: A total of 37 outpatients (mean (standard deviation; SD) age: 36.7 (9.7) years, 54.8% males) with mild intermittent asthma and 13 healthy controls (mean (SD) age: 25.0 (2.9) years, 61.5% males) were included in this case control study. Data on demographics, respiratory function tests segmental and subsegmental thorax HRCTs were recorded. The ratio of the bronchial wall thickness to the bronchial lumen diameter (T/D) and bronchial wall area percentage (WA %) were calculated for all cases. Results: Subject and control groups were similar in terms of respiratory function tests, total and subsegmental T/D. Subsegmental WA% values at the level of inferior pulmonary vein (55.6(16.8) vs. 41.7(7.4); p=0.047) and 2 cm above the diaphragm (49.8(15.8) vs. 38.6(10.4); p=0.046) were significantly higher in subjects than controls. No significant correlation of overall and subsegmental T/D and WA% values to age in both groups and to asthma duration in subjects. Conclusion: Our findings revealed increase in bronchial wall thickness in peripheral airways in subjects with mild intermittent asthma regardless of the duration of asthma. This may indicate the need to administration of anti-inflammatory or bronchodilator therapy effective on peripheral airways also in the early period.