[Significance of expiratory bronchiolar collapse symptoms in the diagnosis of emphysema].
A club-shaped resistance curve as recorded using wholebody plethysmography, as an expression of expiratory bronchial collapse is often interpreted as a sign of pulmonary emphysema. Within the framework of a prospective study involving 32 consecutive patients, a quantification of the resistance loops was carried out. The results obtained indicate that dynamic airway collapse is not specific to emphysema. Rather, there is a highly significant correlation between the degree of bronchial collapse and the elevation of total lung capacity irrespective of whether the latter is due to a reversible hyperinflation associated with bronchospasm or to emphysema of the lungs. It can, however, be seen that, in patients with reversible hyperinflation, intensive anti-obstructive treatment also leads to a decrease in, or the disappearance of, the signs of bronchiole collapse with simultaneous decrease in TLC. We conclude from this that a repeat wholebody plethysmographic examination following a lengthy period of treatment is suitable for distinguishing between bronchiole collapse in reversible hyperinflation and emphysema.
Huppmann
M
M
Wilhelminenspital der Stadt Wien, 2. Interne Abteilung, Osterreich.
Schenk
E
E
Kummer
F
F
D000368:Aged; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000403:Airway Resistance; D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology; D001980:Bronchi / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests
Wertigkeit exspiratorischer Bronchiolenkollapszeichen in der Emphysemdiagnostik.