title: [Specificity and sensitivity of some signs, symptoms and basic laboratory findings for differentiation between bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].
abstract: The aim of this study was to asses the importance of the most frequently observed signs and symptoms, as well as commonly used laboratory tests for differentiation between bronchial asthma and chronic obturative pulmonary disease (COPD). Sensitivity(Se) and specificity (Sp) indices were calculated for 140 analysed variables. Sixty one patients diagnosed as having COPD and 89 as suffering from asthma were analysed. For each patient the modified ATS-DLD-75-C questionnaire was filled out, and laboratory tests results were collected. Laboratory findings included: basic spirometry, diurnal PEF variation, bronchodilator tests with salbutamol, ipratropium bromide and corticosteroids, challenges with histamine and exercise, blood gas analysis, skin tests, chest X ray, ECG, blood cell count, blood and sputum eosinophilia. The results obtained have shown that there is no single parameter characterised by specificity and sensitivity that enable to differentiate between the diseases of interest with sufficient accuracy. Sputum expectoration for et least 3 months of the year (Se = 84%, Sp = 69%), smoking index (cigarettes number per day x years of smoking) > or = 200 (Se = 89%, Sp = 74%), have appeared to have the highest sensitivity and specificity for COPD. Most typical of asthma are: intermittent episodes of wheezing (Se = 89%, Sp = 69%), positive bronchodilator tests: with salbutamol (Se--73%, Sp--93%), with ipratropium bromide and with corticosteroids (Se--66%, Sp--94%) and diurnal variation of PEF > or = 20% predicted (Se--64%, Sp--92%). Challenge test with histamine is of limited value for differentiation bronchial asthma from COPD (Se--96%, Sp--40%), while blood eosinophilia, resting spirometry or blood gases are useless for this purpose.
authors.affiliation: Katedra i Klinika Chorób Wewnetrznych i Alergologii, Akademii Medycznej we Wrocławiu.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dor
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liebhart
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Małolepszy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012882:Skin Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires