All that wheezes is not asthma. All asthma is not allergic. These facts have long been appreciated. In recent years, however, other immunologic and biochemical mechanisms of the etiology and therapy of asthma have been recognized, and concepts such as the mediation of asthma by type III precipitin and the β-adrenergic theory have gained popularity.
This monograph attempts to give a comprehensive review of current concepts of the biochemical and immunologic etiology and therapy of bronchial asthma. In 238 pages and 26 short chapters the author succinctly reviews such subjects as intrinsic and extrinsic asthma, the immune response, aspirin and asthma, biochemical mediators, and exercise-induced asthma. The author also summarizes the literature and briefly presents the concepts with references at the end of the book.
For the most part, the monograph is an introduction to the modern concepts of asthma and its therapy. It is not oriented to age but