Small airways: an important but neglected target in the treatment of obstructive airway diseases
Changes in the structure and function of the small airways (<2 mm diameter) are now recognized to play a major role in airflow limitation in both chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and severe asthma. Increased thickness of the small airway wall causes lumenal narrowing; which can be further occluded by mucus and/or inflammatory cell exudate. This leads to increased peripheral resistance,
