Asthma from childhood to adult age. A prospective study of twenty subjects with special reference to the clinical course and pulmonary function.
Twenty young men with a mean age 24.9 years, who had moderate to severe asthma during childhood, underwent a follow-up examination of their clinical status and pulmonary function. Comparison was made with data obtained at a mean age of 10.9 years. Eight of twenty showed a clinical improvement and 12 no change in their asthma. During childhood 12 of 20 boys had been on longterm ACTH or corticosteroid treatment. In the present study no one was given systemic steroid treatment. The static lung volumes (VC, TLC, FRC RV) were within normal limits for children and adults. In spite of clinical improvement, the expiratory flow rates (FEV1, FEV%) were still significantly reduced (p less than 0.005). Thus, the clinical improvement was not accompanied by a corresponding improvement in expiratory flow rates.
Friberg
S
S
Sachs' Children's Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Bevegård
S
S
Graff-Lonnevig
V
V
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000175:diagnosis; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D008297:Male; D010328:Patch Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013147:Spirometry