Bronchial provocation tests in clinical practice

São Paulo Medical Journal

Elcio Oliveira Vianna¹  Marcos de Carvalho Borges¹  Erica Ferraz¹ 

[1] Universidade de São Paulo;

关键词: Bronchial provocation test;    Asthma;    Bronchoconstriction;    Diagnosis;    Respiratory hypersensitivity;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S1516-31802011000400008

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Bronchial hyperresponsiveness, which consists of an exaggerated response of the airways to bronchoconstrictor stimuli, is one of the main characteristics of asthma, presented in nearly all asthmatic patients. Bronchial hyperresponsiveness may also be present in other diseases, such as allergic rhinitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, heart failure and respiratory infection, and with some medications, such as β-blockers. Bronchial provocation tests (also known as bronchial challenges) are used to evaluate bronchial responsiveness. These tests have become increasingly used over the last 20 years, with the development and validation of accurate, safe and reproducible tests, and with the publication of well-detailed protocols. Several stimuli can be used in a bronchial challenge, and they are classified as direct and indirect stimuli. There are many indications for a bronchial challenge. In this review, we discuss the main differences between direct and indirect stimuli, and the use of bronchial challenges in clinical practice, especially for confirming diagnoses of asthma, exercise-induced bronchoconstriction and cough-variant asthma, and for use among elite-level athletes.

【 授权许可】

Unknown