Asia Pac Allergy.  2015 Apr;5(2):98-102. 10.5415/apallergy.2015.5.2.98.

The association of forced expiratory volume in one second and forced expiratory flow at 50% of the vital capacity, peak expiratory flow parameters, and blood eosinophil counts in exercise-induced bronchospasm in children with mild asthma

• Akar HH
• Tahan F
• Gungor HE

• KMID: 2397056
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5415/apallergy.2015.5.2.98

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB), which describes acute airway narrowing that occurs as a result of exercise, is associated with eosinophilic airway inflammation, bronchial hyperresponsiveness. The forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁) is the most commonly used spirometric test in the diagnosis of EIB in exercise challenge in asthma. Other parameters such as forced expiratory flow at 50% of the vital capacity (FEF(50%)) and peak expiratory flow (PEF) are used less often in the diagnosis of EIB.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the association of FEV₁ and FEF(50%), PEF parameters, blood eosinophil counts in EIB in children with mild asthma.
METHODS
Sixty-seven children (male: 39, female: 28) with mild asthma were included in this study. Pulmonary functions were assessed before and at 1, 5, 10, 15, and 20 minutes after exercise. The values of spirometric FEV₁, FEF50(%), PEF, and blood eosinophil counts were evaluated in EIB in children with mild asthma.
RESULTS
There was a positive correlation between FEV₁ with FEF(50%) and PEF values (p < 0.05; FEF(50%), r=0.68; PEF, r=0.65). Also, a positive correlation was found between blood eosinophil counts and the values of spirometric FEV₁, FEF(50%), and PEF (p < 0.05; FEV₁, r=0.54; FEF(50%), r=0.42; PEF, r=0.26). In addition to these correlations, in the exercise negative group for FEV₁, the FEF(50%) and PEF values decreased more than the cutoff values in 3, and 2 patients, respectively.
CONCLUSION
According to the presented study, eosinophil may play a major role in the severity of EIB in mild asthma. FEF(50%) and PEF values can decrease in response to exercise without changes in FEV₁ in mild asthmatic patients.

Keyword

Asthma, Exercise induced; Bronchoconstriction; Pulmonary function tests; Spirometry

MeSH Terms

Asthma*
Asthma, Exercise-Induced*
Bronchoconstriction
Child*
Diagnosis
Eosinophils*
Female
Forced Expiratory Volume*
Humans
Inflammation
Respiratory Function Tests
Spirometry
Vital Capacity*

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 (A) Relationship between maximal change in FEF50% and in FEV1 (r=0.68, p=0.00). (B) Relationship between maximal change in PEF and in FEV1 (r=0.65, p=0.00). FEF50%, forced expiratory flow at 50% of the vital capacity; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in one second; PEF, peak expiratory flow. (A) y = 7.3 + 1.26 × x. (B) y = 4.36 + 0.96 × x.

• 

  Fig. 2 (A) Relationship between blood eosinophil counts and FEV1 (r=0.54, p=0.00). (B) Relationship between blood eosinophil counts and FEF50% (r=0.42, p=0.00). (C) Relationship between blood eosinophil counts and PEF (r=0.26, p=0.03). FEV1, forced expiratory volume in one second; FEF50%, forced expiratory flow at 50% of the vital capacity; PEF, peak expiratory flow. (A) y = 9.95 + 0.02 × x. (B) y = 18.8 + 0.03 × x. (C) y = 15.23 + 0.01 × x.

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