title: The MVV/FEV1 ratio in normal and asthmatic subjects.
abstract: We compared the ratio of maximal voluntary ventilation/forced expiratory volume in one second (MVV/FEV1) in normal individuals and asthmatic subjects. Our hypothesis was that MVV/FEV1 would be lower in asthmatic subjects. We also compared MVV/FEV1 results with the effects of deep inspiration (DI) on bronchomotor tone and with methacholine responsiveness. In normal subjects, MVV/FEV1 was higher than that in asthmatic subjects. Specific conductance (SGaw) increased after a single DI or an MVV maneuver in normal individuals. An MVV maneuver caused SGaw to decrease in asthmatic subjects. In asthmatic subjects, there was a significant correlation between MVV/FEV1 ratio and magnitude of decrease in SGaw after an MVV maneuver. Results of methacholine testing indicated that asthmatic subjects with low MVV/FEV1 ratios were more responsive to methacholine than those whose MVV/FEV1 ratios were within normal range. We conclude that MVV/FEV1 ratios are abnormally low in many asthmatic subjects and that low MVV/FEV1 ratios may indicate increased bronchial responsiveness to methacholine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine.
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Fairshter
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carilli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soriano
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Pai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000403:Airway Resistance; D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008451:Maximal Voluntary Ventilation; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; D008688:Methacholine Compounds; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation; D013147:Spirometry
chemical_list: D008688:Methacholine Compounds; D016210:Methacholine Chloride