Is forced oscillation technique useful in the diagnosis of occupational asthma?
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to determine whether the forced oscillation technique (FOT), which does not require active cooperation, may be useful to assess bronchial responsiveness in patients with suspected occupational asthma (OA).


METHODS
Changes in resistances evaluated by FOT, and DeltaFEV1 measured during methacholine challenge test were compared in 77 adults referred for suspected OA. Spearman correlations and ROC curves were used.


RESULTS
R0 at the final dose of methacholine (R0hmd) and DeltaR0 were strongly correlated with DeltaFEV1 (p < 0.001). The ROC curves showed that R0hmd >or= 240% predicted was the best cut-off value to discriminate subjects with OA from nonasthmatic subjects (sensitivity: 80%, specificity: 76%).


CONCLUSIONS
FOT can be proposed as an alternative method for the assessment of bronchial responsiveness in subjects with suspected OA, unable to correctly perform forced expiratory maneuvers.
Descatha
Alexis
A
Unité de pathologie professionnelle et de santé au travail, Hôpital Raymond Poincaré, Garches, France. alexis.descatha@rpc.aphp.fr
Fromageot
Claudine
C
Ameille
Jacques
J
Lejaille
Michèle
M
Falaize
Line
L
Louis
Alain
A
Lofaso
Frédéric
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012372:ROC Curve; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D016210:Methacholine Chloride