Airway obstruction in bronchiectasis and its reversibility--a study of 38 patients

Thirty-eight patients (20 males and 18 females) with bronchiectasis were studied for the evidence of airway obstruction and its reversibility in response to subcutaneous terbutaline. There was an improvement in VC (8.56%), FEV1 (6.36%), PEFR (15%) and PEF 25-75% (18%) respectively. The difference being statistically significant in VC and highly significant in FEV1, PEFR and FEF25-75 as compared to initial values and in 6 patients the improvement in FEV1 was more than 15%. The improvement in airway obstruction was not related to the character of expectoration. It is suggested that all the patients of bronchiectasis should be assessed for the reversibility of airway obstruction and those showing a reversible pattern be treated accordingly.