Concave Pattern of a Maximal Expiratory Flow-Volume Curve: A Sign of Airflow Limitation in Adult Bronchial Asthma
Background. In patients with bronchial asthma, spirometry could identify the airflow limitation of small airways by evaluating the concave shape of the maximal expiratory flow-volume (MEFV) curve. As the concave shape of the MEFV curve is not well documented, we reevaluated the importance of this cu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2012-01-01
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| Series: | Pulmonary Medicine |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/797495 |
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| _version_ | 1832548961124089856 |
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| author | Akihiko Ohwada Kazuhisa Takahashi |
| author_facet | Akihiko Ohwada Kazuhisa Takahashi |
| author_sort | Akihiko Ohwada |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background. In patients with bronchial asthma, spirometry could identify the airflow limitation of small airways by evaluating the concave shape of the maximal expiratory flow-volume (MEFV) curve. As the concave shape of the MEFV curve is not well documented, we reevaluated the importance of this curve in adult asthmatic patients. Methods. We evaluated spirometric parameters, the MEFV curve, and its concave shape (scoop between the peak and endpoint of expiration) in 27 nonsmoking asthmatic patients with physician-confirmed wheeze and positive bronchial reversibility after a short-acting β2-agonist inhalation. We also calculated angle β and shape factors ( and ) to quantitate the curvilinearity of the MEFV curve. Results. The MEFV curve was concave in all patients. Along with improvements in standard spirometric parameters, curvilinear parameters, angle β, , and were significantly improved after bronchodilator inhalation. There were significant correlations between improvements in angle β, and , and , and between improvements in , and , and . Conclusions. The bronchodilator greatly affected the concave shape of the MEFV curve, correlating with spirometric parameters of small airway obstructions (, , and ). Thus, the concave shape of the MEFV curve is an important indicator of airflow limitation in adult asthmatic patients. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-891dd55129ba4d2aa8e0cc45fd29ef05 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2090-1836 2090-1844 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pulmonary Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-891dd55129ba4d2aa8e0cc45fd29ef052025-02-03T06:12:33ZengWileyPulmonary Medicine2090-18362090-18442012-01-01201210.1155/2012/797495797495Concave Pattern of a Maximal Expiratory Flow-Volume Curve: A Sign of Airflow Limitation in Adult Bronchial AsthmaAkihiko Ohwada0Kazuhisa Takahashi1Ohwada Clinic, 4-7-13 Minamiyawata, Ichikawa, Chiba 272-0023, JapanDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-8421, JapanBackground. In patients with bronchial asthma, spirometry could identify the airflow limitation of small airways by evaluating the concave shape of the maximal expiratory flow-volume (MEFV) curve. As the concave shape of the MEFV curve is not well documented, we reevaluated the importance of this curve in adult asthmatic patients. Methods. We evaluated spirometric parameters, the MEFV curve, and its concave shape (scoop between the peak and endpoint of expiration) in 27 nonsmoking asthmatic patients with physician-confirmed wheeze and positive bronchial reversibility after a short-acting β2-agonist inhalation. We also calculated angle β and shape factors ( and ) to quantitate the curvilinearity of the MEFV curve. Results. The MEFV curve was concave in all patients. Along with improvements in standard spirometric parameters, curvilinear parameters, angle β, , and were significantly improved after bronchodilator inhalation. There were significant correlations between improvements in angle β, and , and , and between improvements in , and , and . Conclusions. The bronchodilator greatly affected the concave shape of the MEFV curve, correlating with spirometric parameters of small airway obstructions (, , and ). Thus, the concave shape of the MEFV curve is an important indicator of airflow limitation in adult asthmatic patients.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/797495 |
| spellingShingle | Akihiko Ohwada Kazuhisa Takahashi Concave Pattern of a Maximal Expiratory Flow-Volume Curve: A Sign of Airflow Limitation in Adult Bronchial Asthma Pulmonary Medicine |
| title | Concave Pattern of a Maximal Expiratory Flow-Volume Curve: A Sign of Airflow Limitation in Adult Bronchial Asthma |
| title_full | Concave Pattern of a Maximal Expiratory Flow-Volume Curve: A Sign of Airflow Limitation in Adult Bronchial Asthma |
| title_fullStr | Concave Pattern of a Maximal Expiratory Flow-Volume Curve: A Sign of Airflow Limitation in Adult Bronchial Asthma |
| title_full_unstemmed | Concave Pattern of a Maximal Expiratory Flow-Volume Curve: A Sign of Airflow Limitation in Adult Bronchial Asthma |
| title_short | Concave Pattern of a Maximal Expiratory Flow-Volume Curve: A Sign of Airflow Limitation in Adult Bronchial Asthma |
| title_sort | concave pattern of a maximal expiratory flow volume curve a sign of airflow limitation in adult bronchial asthma |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/797495 |
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