title: Pulmonary function tests and the diagnosis of bronchial asthma.
abstract: The uncertainties which combine to make the physiological profile of bronchial asthma difficult to define are discussed in this article. Although the clinician may take comfort when the physiologist has substantiated his diagnosis, he should not defer to the physiologist when pulmonary function testing fails to support his assessment of the patient.
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents