Nebulised DNase post-therapeutic bronchoalveolar lavage in near fatal asthma exacerbation in an adult patient refractory to conventional treatment

BMJ Case Rep. 2013 Jun 25:2013:bcr2013009661. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2013-009661.

Abstract

Mucus plugging plays a vital role in the pathophysiology of fatal and near fatal asthma as demonstrated in various postmortem studies. There is a paucity of published literature on how to manage mucus plugging in adult patients with refractory asthma exacerbation not responding to conventional therapies as compared with its paediatric cohort. We describe a dramatic improvement with the use of rhDNase, following bronchoalveolar lavage in an intubated adult female patient, with status asthmaticus refractory to conventional treatment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Asthma / drug therapy*
  • Asthma / physiopathology
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid*
  • Deoxyribonucleases / administration & dosage*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Nebulizers and Vaporizers*

Substances

  • Deoxyribonucleases