title: Current clinical diagnostic tests for asthma.
abstract: Asthma involves variable airflow obstruction in both large and small airways. The physiological consequences of obstruction include increased airway resistance and decreased expiratory flow rates, which lead to air trapping and dynamic hyperinflation. This chapter reviews current methods for pulmonary function testing to detect these physiological changes for both diagnosis and monitoring.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, JSA 5.112, Galveston, TX, 77555-0561, USA.
authors.forename: Shiwan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Gulshan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000403:Airway Resistance / Q000276:immunology; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D006801:Humans; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements / Q000379:methods; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate / Q000276:immunology; D013147:Spirometry / Q000379:methods