title: Assessment of variable obstruction by forced expiratory volume in 1 second, forced oscillometry, and interrupter technique.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence and the degree of reversible airflow obstruction as detected by forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced oscillometry (FOT), and interrupter technique (resistance measured by the interrupter technique [Rint]) in mild asthmatic children compared with controls. FOT, Rint, and FEV1 were evaluated before and after albuterol (200 microg) administered by metered-dose inhaler and spacer in 28 asthmatic children (mean age +/-SD, 9.1 +/- 1.9 years) and in 20 healthy children (mean age +/-SD, 8.5 +/- 2.1 years). No correlation was found between FEV1, FOT, and Rint values either before or after albuterol. FOT and Rint values were highly correlated pre- and postbronchodilatation. An improvement in FEV1 > or =12% after albuterol was observed in 11 (39%) asthmatic subjects. As suggested using the cutoff value at R6 > or =29%, significant bronchodilatation was observed in 20 (71%) children with FOT and using a reduction > or = 0.20 kPa or 2 cm of H2O, 22 (78%) subjects showed significant bronchodilatation with Rint. No significant changes were observed after albuterol in controls. FOT and Rint techniques showed a greater sensitivity in detecting reversibility of bronchoconstriction in mild asthmatic patients. Prospective studies are needed to clarify the possible advantages of these findings in mild-moderate asthmatic children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Ospedale G. Rummo, Benevento, Italy.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boccaccino
authors.forename: Diego G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Peroni
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pietrobelli
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Piacentini
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bodini
authors.forename: Atanasio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chatzimichail
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Spinosa
authors.forename: Attilio L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Boner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000420:Albuterol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D016084:Bronchoconstriction; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009991:Oscillometry; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests
chemical_list: D000420:Albuterol