New Tread of Association of Rhinovirus and Asthma

Kim, Woo Kyung

Abstract

Exacerbations of asthma is major causes of morbidity, mortality, and health-care costs. Over the decade, studies using new molecular diagnostic techniques have established that respiratory viruses are a major cause of exacerbations of asthma. The most prevalent viruses detected during exacerbations are the rhinovirus. Despite the burden of disease associated with exacerbations, little is known about the mechanisms of virus-induced exacerbations of airway diseases. Exacerbations are associated with increased airway inflammation in patients with asthma, but many questions remain unanswered regarding the key inflammatory cells and mediators involved. Identifying the key inflammatory mediators involved in exacerbations holds the promise of developing diagnostic and prognostic markers of exacerbation. The purpose of this review is to summarize the recent change in our understanding of the clinical manifestations of rhinovirus infection than occurred as a result of the improved diagnostic sensitivity provided by the multiplex-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays and serotypes.