title: Clinical use of methacholine bronchial challenge testing.
abstract: Whereas the research applications have been well established, the clinical utility of bronchial challenge testing is still being defined. In 19 of 22 patients referred for testing (86%), the results of a methacholine challenge test helped to confirm a clinical suspicion of asthma or to suggest that alternative diagnoses should be investigated. There was a discrepancy between the pretest suspicion of the referring physician and the results of the challenge test in six of these 19 patients (32%). Thus our experience suggests that bronchial challenge testing provides useful information to supplement clinical acumen in the diagnosis of asthma.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests / Q000379:methods*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008688:Methacholine Compounds; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D008688:Methacholine Compounds