Bronchiolitis obliterans

Bronchiolitis obliterans is a rare lung disease in which inflammation and scarring narrow or block the small airways, causing persistent airflow obstruction.

Small airways: Small airways are the bronchioles that conduct air between larger bronchi and the gas-exchanging regions of the lungs. These are the structures narrowed or blocked by the disease’s scarring.
Diacetyl: Diacetyl is a volatile compound used as a flavoring chemical and produced during some fermentation processes. Occupational exposure to diacetyl has been linked to bronchiolitis obliterans in flavoring-plant workers.
Organizing pneumonia: Organizing pneumonia is a lung condition in which granulation tissue fills small airways and nearby air spaces. Despite its historical name, it mainly affects air spaces and often responds to treatment unlike fixed bronchiolar scarring.
Lung biopsy: Lung biopsy is the removal of lung tissue for microscopic examination. Biopsy can identify bronchiolar scarring, though sampling limitations make diagnosis challenging.
Bronchiolar fibrosis: Bronchiolar fibrosis is the formation of excess scar tissue in the walls or lumens of the lung’s small airways. Scar tissue is the structural change that can permanently constrict bronchioles.
Lung transplantation: Lung transplantation is surgery that replaces one or both diseased lungs with donor lungs. Chronic rejection after transplantation can cause a related small-airway scarring syndrome.
Asthma: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease characterized by variable respiratory symptoms and usually reversible airflow limitation. Its variable, often reversible obstruction contrasts with the persistent obstruction of bronchiolitis obliterans.
Pulmonary rehabilitation: Pulmonary rehabilitation is a supervised program combining exercise training, education, and support for people with chronic lung disease. It can help maintain exercise capacity and manage breathlessness despite persistent obstruction.
Airflow obstruction: Airflow obstruction is a reduction in the rate at which air can be moved through the respiratory tract. Persistent obstruction is the defining functional consequence of the airway damage.
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation replaces blood-forming cells after conditioning with chemotherapy, radiation, or both. Chronic graft-versus-host disease after transplantation can involve bronchiolar injury.

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