The usefulness of the mannitol challenge test for asthma.
The mannitol test was developed as an easy-to-use, safe, standardized bronchial challenge test for diagnosing asthma in a wide range of clinical settings. The mannitol test has a moderate sensitivity and will only detect approximately 60% of asthma cases. Hence, a negative mannitol test cannot be used to rule out asthma. The advantage of the mannitol test is a high specificity. In an individual with symptoms suggestive of asthma, a positive test indicates a high likelihood of asthma with ongoing airway inflammation and seems useful for detecting asthma requiring regular anti-inflammatory therapy. In this review, the current knowledge on the usefulness of the mannitol in a clinical setting as well as in clinical trials is presented and outstanding questions on the usefulness of the test are discussed.
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Respiratory Research Unit, Bispebjerg University Hospital, Bispebjerg Bakke 23, 2400 Copenhagen NV, Denmark.
Celeste
C
Porsbjerg
Asger
A
Sverrild
Vibeke
V
Backer
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008353:Mannitol; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D008353:Mannitol