[Small airway function tests; techniques of measurements. Review of the literature].
It is usually agreed that obstructive lesions in small airways are the first abnormalities in patients with chronic bronchitis. Consequently, there is now a great interest in the early detection of airways obstruction. Three techniques are described: frequency dependence of compliance, flow-volume curve and closing-volume. The results obtained in healthy subjects and in patients with obstructed airways are discussed.
D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology; D001980:Bronchi / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000503:physiopathology; D005540:Forced Expiratory Flow Rates; D006801:Humans; D008170:Lung Compliance; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests / Q000379:methods*
Explorations fonctionnelles des petites voies aériennes. Méthodes principales et résultats. Revue de la littérature.