Techniques of assessing small airways dysfunction
#MMPMID26557240
McNulty W
; Usmani OS
Eur Clin Respir J
2014[]; 1
(?): ? PMID26557240
show ga
The small airways are defined as those less than 2 mm in diameter. They are a
major site of pathology in many lung diseases, not least chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. The small airways are frequently involved
early in the course of these diseases, with significant pathology demonstrable
often before the onset of symptoms or changes in spirometry and imaging. Despite
their importance, they have proven relatively difficult to study. This is in part
due to their relative inaccessibility to biopsy and their small size which makes
their imaging difficult. Traditional lung function tests may only become abnormal
once there is a significant burden of disease within them. This has led to the
term 'the quiet zone' of the lung. In recent years, more specialised tests have
been developed which may detect these changes earlier, perhaps offering the
possibility of earlier diagnosis and intervention. These tests are now moving
from the realms of clinical research laboratories into routine clinical practice
and are increasingly useful in the diagnosis and monitoring of respiratory
diseases. This article gives an overview of small airways physiology and some of
the routine and more advanced tests of airway function.
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