title: Diagnostic exercise challenge testing.
abstract: This article reviews the diagnostic challenge methods-both exercise and surrogate-for diagnosis of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) and EIB with known asthma. Indirect challenges that release the entire repertoire of mediators representative of EIB and asthma are more specific for diagnosis and are recommended over direct challenges such as methacholine challenge, which are sensitive but nonspecific. Self-reported history and empiric therapeutic trials are not adequate for diagnosis of EIB with or without known asthma. Objective pulmonary function documentation with bronchodilator reversibility or exercise or surrogate challenge are optimal for diagnosis of EIB or EIB with known asthma. Such objective pulmonary function documentation is optimal for the proper management and healthy lifestyle of the exercising athlete or individual.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics/Medicine, Division of Allergy/Immunology Center for Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, Yale University, Waterbury, CT 06708, USA. ccrandolphmd@gmail.com
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Randolph
mesh_terms: D001250:Asthma, Exercise-Induced / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D016084:Bronchoconstriction; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D008353:Mannitol; D016210:Methacholine Chloride
chemical_list: D016210:Methacholine Chloride; D008353:Mannitol