Bronchial obstruction in the active tuberculosis with reference to our experiences

The association of active pulmonary tuberculosis and bronchial obstruction prolongs further parnechymal destruction, while its detection and treatment on time prevent irreversible changes in the airways and consecutive significant functional limitations of the respiratory system, which are very similar to those in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; however, despite some analogies in the pathogenesis, clinical and functional manifestations, these two entities can not be equated, but should be differentiated in time. Risk factors for development of bronchial obstruction in active pulmonary tuberculosis are of the multifactor nature, and the matrix metalloproteinase-system could be a key to the future solutions of etiopathogenic and therapeutic models. Bronchial obstruction in active pulmonary tuberculosis is often the initial manifestation of an unrecognized chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and a consequent, significant, functional impairment of the respiratory system that has developed on the site of extensive parenchymal destruction and intense systemic inflammatory response during reparative processes, which, in the absence of risk factors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, change the normal architecture of respiratory system and its proper function. The administration of bronchodilators by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease strategy represents a good way in systemic and objective therapeutic approach to these patients, while the results in the application of current questionnaires on life quality of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma indicate positive experience, as well as conventional indicator of treatment outcomes. Therefore, the existing strategies for control and treatment of tuberculosis should consider the fact that only microbiological cure of patients with concomitant airway obstruction is not a sufficient and effective approach to the prevention of further potential, chronic disruption of their health.