Аннотация:Clinicians have long dismissed mucus as an innocent bystander of respiratory illness, relegating it to the medical dustbin of annoying yet harmless symptoms. But recent epidemiological studies have re-ignited an old controversy and opinions are changing fast. For patients with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cystic fibrosis, mucus hypersecretion is now considered to be a risk factor for increased morbidity. As the importance of mucus comes to the fore, scientists are uncovering new treatment targets and some promising compounds are already in the pipeline.
