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Airway mucus plugs in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: pathobiology, imaging, and implications for clinical trials

Mucus plugs have been previously recognized as an important pathological feature in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but their clinical role in these diseases has not been explored in depth until recently. Mucus plug formation is driven by mucus hyperconcentration, changes in mucus viscoelastic properties, impaired clearance, and mucociliary collapse. 

Citation:
Bosma CB, Aaron SD, Celli BR, ……. Ramsey KA, San José Estépar R, et al. Tanabe N, et al. Airway mucus plugs in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: pathobiology, imaging, and implications for clinical trials. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2026;212(9):1947-61. 

Keywords:
COPD; asthma; mucus plug score; mucus plugs

Abstract:
Mucus plugs have been previously recognized as an important pathological feature in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but their clinical role in these diseases has not been explored in depth until recently. Mucus plug formation is driven by mucus hyperconcentration, changes in mucus viscoelastic properties, impaired clearance, and mucociliary collapse.