Asthma- Diagnosis

Question 1

What are the two diagnostic criteria for asthma dx

Answer 1

clinical history + confirmation of reversive airflow obstruction

Question 2

What is the gold standard test for airflow obstruction for asthma for dx

Answer 2

spirometry

Question 3

What must spirometry show for asthma dx

as evidence of reversible airflow obstruction
2

Answer 3

FEV1/FVC < LLN (<0.75-0.8)
+
increase in FEV1 after bronchodilator or course of controller therapy

FEV1- forced exipratory volume in 1 second (shows severity of obstruction)
FVC- forced vital capactiy - amount you can exhale after deep breath (lung capactiy- shows restriction)
LNN - lower limit of nomal

Question 4

What is the significance to improved airflow in the lungs after a bronchodilator is given?

Answer 4

Hallmark diagnostic of asthma is reversal of obstruction after administration of bronchodilator

Question 5

If a person is compliant with their asthma medications how will their PFTs look

Answer 5

almost normal- controlled but not cured

Question 6

What is the role of CXR in asthma?

Answer 6

to r/o other differentials but not to dx

Question 7

In patients who have a flair of allergic symptoms along with asthma what concomitant treatment would be beneficial

Answer 7

pulm meds + antihistaine like loratidine, or leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA) like singulair