title: Pocket-sized spirometer for monitoring bronchial challenge procedures.
abstract: Diagnosis of occupational asthma is verified by inhalation challenge testing when frequent monitoring of peak expiratory flow (PEF) or forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) is needed. FEV1 measurements also allow frequent monitoring of changes in small airways. For the follow-up of lung function of suspected occupational asthma, a reliable, personal and mobile device is needed. We studied the accuracy of a pocket-sized spirometer, Micro Plus Spirometer (MP), compared with our former combination of two devices, i.e. the values of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) with those measured with the Vitalograph bellow spirometer (V); and the peak expiratory flow (PEF) values with the values obtained with a Wright PEF meter (W). In healthy control subjects, the values of FEV1 obtained with Micro Plus correspond well to those obtained using a bellow spirometer (R = 0.97) and the mean difference (MP-V) was -0.06 1 irrespective of the mean FEV1 value. W gives smaller PEF values than the MP; the mean difference in PEF (MP-W) was 44 1 min-1, but the values increased linearly with increasing flow. The poor relation between PEF values might be based on the low reliability of the Wright device. In patient follow-up, the FEV1 values measured with MP and V showed a good correlation (R = 0.99). The PEF values in patients increase linearly measured with W vs. MP with increasing flow values. In conclusion, we found the pocket-sized spirometer a handy and useful device for monitoring bronchial challenge procedures in patients with suspected occupational asthma. The number of exhalations during the challenge test follow-up is lessened when FEV1 and peak expiratory flow (PEF) can be measured simultaneously.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Medicine, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Keskinen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piirilä
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nordman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nurminen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008448:Maximal Expiratory Flow Rate; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013147:Spirometry / Q000295:instrumentation*