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Factors Determining the Shape of Maximum Expiratory Flow‐Volume Curves in Childhood Asthma
Author(s) -
Landau L. I.,
Hill D. J.,
Phelan P. D.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 0004-8291
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-5994.1973.tb04295.x
Subject(s) - medicine , spirometry , asthma , mefv , small airways , vital capacity , lung function , cardiology , lung volumes , pulmonary function testing , anesthesia , lung , diffusing capacity , biochemistry , chemistry , gene mutation , mutation , gene
Summary: In 12 children with bronchial asthma, the factors determining maximum expiratory flow at different levels of lung inflation have been examined during forced vital capacity manoeuvres. The findings confirm the histopathological evidence of major changes in the small and medium sized airways in asthma. Changes in the function of these airways, especially those with small internal diameters, often remained undetected by conventional spirometry, whereas analysis of the maximum expiratory flow‐volume (MEFV) curves of these asthmatic children frequently revealed abnormalities. It is suggested that MEFV curves are simple and useful in the assessment of disease in the small airways.