Radical 'remodelling' theory points to possible asthma cause

PERMANENT changes to a person's airways traced back to early childhood or even the womb may be responsible for soaring asthma rates, it was claimed yesterday.

A combination of genetic and environmental factors is thought to "remodel" the lungs and make them susceptible to asthma attacks, according to a new theory.

The idea is radically different from the traditional view which sees changes to the airways as the result of asthma, not the underlying cause.