Role of FEF25%-75% as a predictor of bronchial hyperreactivity in allergic patients.
BACKGROUND
The small airways may play an important role in the clinical manifestations of asthma. Forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% (FEF25%-75%) has been proposed as an approximate measure of the caliber of distal airways. Bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR) is a feature of asthma.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the possible role of FEF25%-75% as a predictor of BHR in allergic patients with asthma and rhinitis.


METHODS
A total of 726 patients (mean +/- SD age, 24.7 +/- 6.3 years) were evaluated. Spirometry and methacholine bronchial challenge were evaluated in all the participants.


RESULTS
A difference between forced expiratory volume in 1 second and FEF25%-75% greater than 20 or a ratio between these variables greater than 1.24 discriminates between patients with no response to a mild response to methacholine vs patients with a moderate-to-severe response with high sensitivity (P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
This study highlights the possible role of FEF25%-75% in predicting BHR in allergic individuals with airway disorders.
Cirillo
Ignazio
I
Dipartimento di Medicina, Ospedale Marina Militare, La Spezia, Italy.
Klersy
Catherine
C
Marseglia
Gian Luigi
GL
Vizzaccaro
Andrea
A
Pallestrini
Eugenio
E
Tosca
Mariangela
M
Ciprandi
Giorgio
G
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D016085:Bronchoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008450:Maximal Midexpiratory Flow Rate; D016210:Methacholine Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D012372:ROC Curve
D015415:Biomarkers; D016085:Bronchoconstrictor Agents; D016210:Methacholine Chloride