Severe Asthma

Epidemiology and socioeconomic impact of severe asthma; risk factors for morbidity and mortality in asthma; the pathology of asthma - an inflammatory disorder; pulmonary physiology of severe asthma in children and adults; chronic inflammation in asthma; inflammatory mediators and neural mechanisms in severe asthma; pharmacological management of severe asthma; inhaled glucocorticoids - benefits and risks; patterns of response to corticosteroids; molecular mechanisms of glucocorticoid action; the glucocorticoid receptor as a target in the pathogenesis of steroid-resistant asthma; glucocorticoid pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics - implications for steroid dosing strategies; alternative anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory therapy; severe childhood asthma; diagnosis and management of severe asthma in the adult; allergen-specific therapy for severe asthma; adherence with asthma therapy in the management of asthma - review and clinical guidelines; psychosocial aspects of severe asthma in children; difficult-to-control asthma - new insights and implications for management; asthma management - past, present and future.