Evaluating the Effect of Asthma Medication
Since asthma has been defined as an illness characterized in part by airway obstruction it is essential for diagnosis to demonstrate this by using spirometry. The definition also includes the feature of reversibility; that is, that airflow can improve significantly. To demonstrate this feature spirometry is performed before and after inhaling bronchodilator medication. Th be significant, the physician looks for at least a 15 percent improvement in the spirometry parameters after the patient inhales bronchodilator medication.
Diseases such as emphysema, chronic bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, or bronchiectasis may demonstrate severe degrees of airflow obstruction without any improvement after bronchodilator use. However, it may be difficult to demonstrate reversibility in all asthmatics during a single laboratory session, possibly owing to severe degrees of bronchial narrowing or to inadequate inhalation of medication by the patient. Therefore, the absence of reversibility should never be taken as absolute proof that asthma is not present.
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