A Reid index greater than 50% is most characteristic of which condition?

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Multiple Choice

A Reid index greater than 50% is most characteristic of which condition?

The Reid index reflects mucous gland hypertrophy in the bronchial submucosa relative to the surrounding bronchial wall. In chronic bronchitis, ongoing irritation stimulates enlargement of the mucous glands and goblet cells, leading to increased mucus production. This raises the mucous gland thickness compared to the wall, producing a Reid index greater than 0.5 (more than 50%). That finding is classically associated with chronic bronchitis. Other conditions involve different airway changes: emphysema centers on alveolar destruction rather than gland enlargement, and asthma or bronchiolitis involve airway inflammation and hyperreactivity without the characteristic gland-to-wall expansion seen in chronic bronchitis. Normal Reid index is about 0.4 or less, so a value over 0.5 points toward chronic bronchitis.

The Reid index reflects mucous gland hypertrophy in the bronchial submucosa relative to the surrounding bronchial wall. In chronic bronchitis, ongoing irritation stimulates enlargement of the mucous glands and goblet cells, leading to increased mucus production. This raises the mucous gland thickness compared to the wall, producing a Reid index greater than 0.5 (more than 50%). That finding is classically associated with chronic bronchitis. Other conditions involve different airway changes: emphysema centers on alveolar destruction rather than gland enlargement, and asthma or bronchiolitis involve airway inflammation and hyperreactivity without the characteristic gland-to-wall expansion seen in chronic bronchitis. Normal Reid index is about 0.4 or less, so a value over 0.5 points toward chronic bronchitis.

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