Not all wheezing is COPD

Abstract

Not all wheezing is COPDA 53-year-old woman came to us because of shortness of breath. The problem had started about 3 years earlier, had slowly gotten worse, and was now limiting her activities of daily living. It was associated with wheezing, and her primary care physician had diagnosed it as asthma. Since that time, she had been hospitalized at least twice with "asthma exacerbations," which were treated with systemic corticosteroids and intravenous antibiotics. See related editorial, page 150She had then been referred to a pulmonary physician for spirometry, which showed severe obstruction that did not reverse with bronchodilators. Her condition was diagnosed as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and was treated with montelukast and the combination