BRONCHIAL ASTHMA

Objectives: 1) To study and compare the Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs)in middle-aged non-smoker, non-asthmatic males with non-smoker mild asthmatics. 2) To provide a scientific basis forchoice of herbal medicines as bronchodilator for asthmatic patients by standardized PFTs. Setting: Punjab PostgraduateMedical Institute (PGMI), Lahore, Out-Patient Departments of Services Hospital and Asthma Clinic MayoHospital, Lahore. Patients & Methods: Forty male nonsmokers between 30 - 60 years of age, equally divided intocontrol & mild asthmatic groups. PFTs were carried out with Body Plethysmograph (Model 2.2 PK Morgan, UK) before& after administration of the herbal medicine. The baseline value of Forced Expiratory Volume in first second (FEV1)was used as an index for sub-clinical hyper-responsive behavior of asthmatic group. Reversibility was defined asimprovement in FEV1 of 15% or more from baseline after intake of the bronchodilator. Spirometric and volume relatedparameters were measured. The response of asthmatic group was compared with control group before and after intakeof Adhatoda Vasica. Results: There was a statistically significant difference (p 0.05) after the intake of herbal medicine except for FEV1 which showed asignificant difference (p<0.05). The post-bronchodilator percent change in FEV1 was highly significantly (p<0.01)correlated with percent changes in FVC, PEFR, TGV, TLC and Raw. Conclusion: This study reveals that flow ratesand static lung volumes are helpful in assessing reversibility in airway obstruction after intake of bronchodilators.