The Full Form of AEBA is‍ Acute Exacerbation of Bronchial Asthma.

This was an observational prospective study of consecutive patients with acute exacerbation of asthma admitted to the Emergency Room of Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Mangiagalli e Regina Elena Hospital, Milan, Italy, between January 2004 and December 2004. Acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma (AEBA) was defined as following: episodes of rapidly progressive increase in shortness of breath, cough, wheezing, or chest tightness, or some combination of these symptoms necessitating a non-scheduled visit, and associated to a decrease of respiratory airflow quantified by measurements of peak expiratory flow (PEF) or FEV1 [13]. Severe exacerbation of asthma was defined when PEF on admission was <50% according to BTS criteria [14]. We chose the PEF value measurement as the only criterion for acute severe asthma exacerbation in Emergcency Room since it is a direct and reproducible measurement easily controlled in the follow-up.

Subjects satisfying criteria for acute exacerbation of asthma were eligible for the study if all the following inclusion criteria were fulfilled: 1) age > 18 yrs; 2) history of typical bronchial asthma > 6 mo and 3) smoking history < 10 pack/yrs.

Patients with a radiological diagnosis of pneumonia or with impaired consciousness on admission were excluded from the study.

On admission, past medical history and active medications were collected; every patient underwent the following examinations: PEF measurements (best out of three), spirometry, an oropharyngeal swab specimens and a blood sample for serologic testing.