title: Unevenness of ventilation assessed by the expired CO(2) gas volume versus V(T) curve in asthmatic patients.
abstract: Recently, we have shown that the expired CO2 gas volume versus tidal volume (VCO2-VT) curve is a useful tool for assessing unevenness of ventilation because it allows the separation of tidal volume into three functional compartments: (a) the CO2-free expired air (V0), (b) the transitional volume (Vtr), (c) the alveolar volume (VA) and the measurement of alveolar FCO2 during resting breathing in normal subjects and patients with COPD. In this paper, we have investigated whether changes pertaining to unevenness of ventilation taking place immediately after the administration of methacholine can be assessed using the VCO2-VT curve in asthmatic patients. The VCO2-VT curve was obtained during tidal breathing from 16 stable asthmatic patients who underwent a methacholine challenge test. It has been found that the Vtr, and hence Bohr's dead space (VD,Bohr = V0 + Vtr), over tidal volume ratios were significantly increased immediately after the methacholine administration, whilst the V0 over tidal volume ratio was not affected. The change of the above ratios was not related to the percentage decrease of FEV1.0 following methacholine administration.
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Function Laboratory, Department of Respiratory Medicine, University of Athens Medical School, "Sotiria" Hospital for Diseases of the Chest, 152, Mesogion Ave, Athens GR-11527, Greece.
authors.forename: N G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Koulouris
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Latsi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stavrou
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chroneou
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gaga
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jordanoglou
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D016085:Bronchoconstrictor Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis*; D045853:Exhalation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D016210:Methacholine Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation / Q000187:drug effects*; D012126:Respiratory Dead Space; D013990:Tidal Volume
chemical_list: D016085:Bronchoconstrictor Agents; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; D002245:Carbon Dioxide