title: [Clear diagnosis in an atypical case of bronchial asthma and treatment monitoring using pulmonary function tests].
abstract: The paper deals with a bronchial asthma case whose anamnesis and clinical data plead rather for a chronic obstructive bronchitis (COPD). The diagnosis is elucidated through the pulmonary function tests performed both before and after a treatment which suppresses the inflammation and oedema of the mucous membrane with hypercrinia and discrinia, thus allowing the hyperreactivity of bronchial smooth muscles to become evident. Taking into account that more than 50% of the asthmatic persons have not a correct perception of the airway obstruction, treatment effect evaluation on the basis of clinical data only may lead to an early treatment stepping which can favour the development of a chronic inflammation and a "basic" obstructive syndrome resulting in a pulmonary insufficiency later on. Pulmonary function tests are therefore useful in monitoring the treatment whose efficacy is proved by the achievement of normal pulmonary function (or at least as close to normal as possible) and not only by the suppression of clinical symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Institutul de Pneumoftiziologie Marius Nasta, Bucureşti.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bistriceanu
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005280:Fenoterol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D005280:Fenoterol
vernacular_title: Elucidarea diagnosticului într-un caz atipic de astm bronşic şi monitorizarea tratamentului cu ajutorul testelor de explorare funcţională pulmonară.