[The value of the spirographic examination in the follow-up with time of the lung functional states in children with bronchial asthma].

Abstract

28 Children with bronchial asthma, aged 6-18 years, were followed up for varying time intervals, between 3 months and over 5 years. In the cases studied, 7-8 functional tests were used under different clinical conditions: asymptomatic, manifested clinical form of the bronchial asthma, crisis of expiratory dyspnea in various severeness degrees. For an easy use of the method in the pediatric network, the lung functional investigation consisted only of spirographic examination (CV (vital capacity), VEMS (max. expir. ventilation per second) VEMS/CV ratio). The study has to show which of the lung functional parameters, measured on the maximum and forced spirogram, are the most useful for the best evaluation of the functional state of the asthmatic child. The VEMS value proved to be the most correct one for appreciating the presence and severeness degree of the obstructive syndrome The slight variation of the VEMS/CV ratio showed that the information given by this parameter cannot reveal enough the alteration of the lung function in child. For a better evaluation of the lung functional state in the asthmatic child, the routine spirographic examination, has to be completed with more "sensible" tests, such as FEF25-755 and MEF59 and with other functional parameters measured by plethysmographic examination (VGT, Raw).