Abstract

Diana Ionita
Institutul de Pneumologie „M. Nasta", Bucuresti - Departamentul de Explorari Functionale Respiratorii
Contact: dianaionita@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT
Bronchial obstruction, variable over time and reversible after using bronchodilator is the hallmark of the respiratory function in bronchial asthma. There are patients with „atypical" functional tests or in whom routine tests (spirometry, peakflowmetry) are not sufficient for asthma diagnosis (thus necessitating more complex functional tests). Pulmonary function evaluation confirms the diagnostic, establishes disease severity and contributes to disease monitoring. Quality criteria verification (e.g. acceptability of the measurements and reproducibility of the parameters) should precede any interpretation.
Keywords: asthma, pulmonary function tests, pitfalls.