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Related Experiment Videos

Physiologic measures: pulmonary function tests. Asthma outcome

P L Enright1, M D Lebowitz, D W Cockroft

  • 1Respiratory Sciences Center, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson 85724.

American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
|February 1, 1994
PubMed
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Pulmonary function tests objectively measure asthma severity by assessing airway obstruction. Different tests like spirometry and bronchial challenges offer unique insights, though no single "gold standard" exists for asthma outcome measurement.

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonary Medicine
  • Respiratory Physiology

Background:

  • Asthma is characterized by variable airway obstruction.
  • Objective measurement of this physiologic manifestation is crucial for evaluating asthma interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and compare various pulmonary function tests used in research settings for measuring asthma severity and outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Discussion of key pulmonary function tests including baseline spirometry (FEV1), post-bronchodilator FEV1, airway responsiveness (methacholine challenge), and ambulatory monitoring (peak flow meters).
  • Comparison of the reliability, cost, technical demands, and clinical utility of each test.
  • Mention of other tests like lung volumes and airways resistance.

Main Results:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Baseline spirometry (FEV1) is a reproducible and standardized measure of asthma severity.
  • Post-bronchodilator FEV1 indicates best achievable lung function but visit-to-visit reversibility is not a useful outcome measure.
  • Airway responsiveness tests provide valuable data but have contraindications and require technical skill.
  • Ambulatory monitoring captures daily variations in obstruction (PEF lability) not seen in clinic visits.
  • All tested methods correlate with each other and with clinical symptoms and medication use.

Conclusions:

  • No single "gold standard" test currently exists for measuring asthma severity.
  • Each pulmonary function test provides unique and complementary information for assessing asthma outcomes in clinical trials.
  • A combination of tests may be necessary for a comprehensive evaluation of asthma interventions.