Mucus plugs are a plausible mechanism of chronic airflow obstruction in severe asthma, and EPO-generated oxidants may mediate mucus plug formation. We propose an approach for quantifying airway mucus plugging using MDCT lung scans and suggest that treating mucus plugs may improve airflow in chronic severe asthma.

We aimed to determine phenotypic associations of mucus plugging in patients with moderate to severe asthma in a real-life clinic setting. Mucus plugs (MPs) were identified by a thoracic radiologist upon high-resolution computed tomography imaging.

Sep 20, 2023 · Mucus plugs in asthmatic airways are associated with airway obstruction and the activity of inflammatory cytokines, specifically interleukin (IL)-5 and IL-13, and they may provide an...

Mar 1, 2018 · A high mucus score (plugs in ≥ 4 segments) occurred in 67% of subjects with asthma with FEV1 of less than 60% of predicted volume, 19% with FEV1 of 60%-80%, and 6% with FEV1 greater than 80% (P < 0.001) and was associated with marked increases in sputum eosinophils and EPO.

Airway mucus plugs persist in a subset of patients with asthma. Mucus plug scores correlate with changes in airflow over the 3-year time period, which suggests that airway mucus plugs are a mechanism of airflow obstruction that can be therapeutically targeted.

Mucus plugs were found in 29 (59%) asthmatic, 25 (65%) ACO, 17 (41%) COPD patients. Patients with mucus plugs had reduced spirometry and larger FOT parameters, especially in COPD patients. Mucus scores correlated positively with IgE in ACO and FeNO in asthmatic patients, but not in COPD patients.

In fatal asthma, mucus plugs occlude airways, blocking gas exchange to cause asphyxia and death (1, 2). In exacerbations, mucus plugs occlude major airways and contribute to air trapping, atelectasis, and treatment unresponsiveness (3).

Feb 8, 2024 · Mucus plugs localized predominantly to airway generations 6-9, and 47% of plugs in baseline scans persisted in the same airway for 3 years and fluctuated in length and volume.

May 1, 2022 · The association between change in mucus plug score and change in airflow over time supports a causal role for mucus plugs in mechanisms of airflow obstruction in asthma. Keywords: air trapping; asthma; computed tomography; eosinophils; mucus plugs.

There are a few at-home remedies that may provide relief from mucus build-up in the throat. Hot tea, coffee, or both can help break up mucus in the throat. Drinking water and staying hydrated can also break up and thin out mucus.