Table 1.

Different patterns of fatal asthma

	Scenario of asthma death
Variable	Type 1	Type 2
Time course	Subacute worsening (days). 'Slow onset – late arrival'	Acute deterioration (hours). 'Sudden asphyxic asthma'
Frequency	≅ 80–85%	≅ 15–20%
Airways	Extensive mucous plugging	More or less 'empty' bronchi
Inflammation	Eosinophils	Neutrophils
Response to treatment	Slow	Faster
Prevention	Possible	(?)