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Lung function and bronchial challenges in infants: Repeatability of histamine and comparison with methacholine challenges
Author(s) -
Stick S. M.,
Turner D. J.,
Lesouéf Peter N.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
pediatric pulmonology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.866
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1099-0496
pISSN - 8755-6863
DOI - 10.1002/ppul.1950160308
Subject(s) - repeatability , medicine , methacholine , lung function , coefficient of variation , asthma , histamine , cystic fibrosis , pulmonary function testing , anesthesia , lung , respiratory disease , mathematics , statistics
Limited information exists regarding the repeatability of lung function and bronchial challenge tests using the rapid thoracic compression technique (RTC) in infants. Aims: To determine the repeatability of lung function and histamine challenge test results using the RTC technique and to compare the results obtained for bronchial challenges using histamine (H) and methacholine (M). Methods: Twelve infants 7 healthy, 5 with cystic fibrosis (CF) had pairs of H challenges 1 week apart. Eleven infants (7 healthy, 4 CF) had one H and one M challenge a week apart. The provocative concentration of H or M to cause a 40% fall in maximum flow at functional residual capacity (PC 40 ) was determined using the RTC technique. Twenty‐three comparisons were possible between maximal expiratory flow at functional residual capacity (V maxFRC ) measurements made l week apart. Results: The mean difference between pairs of V maxFRC measurements was 6.4% of baseline, and the coefficient of repeatability was 31.1% of baseline. The mean difference between PC 40 (H) measurements was 0.163 doubling concentrations, with a coefficient of repeatability of 1.66 doubling concentrations. The mean difference between PC 40 (H) and PC 40 (M) was 0.75 doubling concentrations, with 95% of PC 40 (H) between −0.18 to 1.69 doubling concentrations of the PC 40 (M). Conclusions: Although the repeatability of V maxFRC using the RTC technique is less than for voluntary forced expiratory flow parameters in older children, similar results were obtained for infants as observed in older subjects for repeatability of H challenges and agreement between measures of bronchial responsiveness using H or M. Pediatr Pulmonol. 1993; 16:177–183. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.