The potential use of spirometry during methacholine challenge test in young children with respiratory symptoms

Daphna Vilozni, Galit Livnat, Husein Dabbah, Nael Elias, Fahed Hakim, Lea Bentur

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: The concentration of methacholine that causes a fall of 20% from baseline forced expiratory volume in the first second (PC20-FEV1) in the methacholine challenge test (MCT) is not usually considered a diagnostic tool in preschool children since PC20-FEV1 may not be achievable <6 years of age. Aim: To assess the usefulness of various spirometry indices obtained during MCT in a large group of 3- to 6-year-old children with respect to their clinical diagnosis. Methods: Standardized MCT (inhaled triple-concentration increments [0.057-13.925 mg] of methacholine solution) was performed by 84 children previously diagnosed with asthma (asthmatics) and 48 with prolonged cough (coughers). Spirometry was determined at baseline and between inhalations; PC20-FEV1 and PC25-FEV0.5 were calculated. Results: PC20-FEV1 valueswere significantly less in the asthmatics than in the coughers (mean±SD was 3.21±4.32 vs. 22.35±3.66 ml/mg). Similarly, PC25-FEV0.5 was 1.48±3.08 in the asthmatics and 9.45±12.59 mg/ml/Mch in the coughers, P<0.0001. A cut-off at 4.0 mg/ml for PC20-FEV1 had 77.4% sensitivity and 75.0% specificity, a cut-off at 2.2 mg/ml for PC25-FEV0.5 had 73.8% sensitivity and 72.9% specificity, for clinical diagnosis of asthma. PC25-FEV0.5 also showed a correlation with age. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that MCTcan be performed in preschool children with various respiratory symptoms. PC25-FEV0.5 may be a better end-point parameter. Children with a clinical diagnosis of asthma respond to a lower MCTconcentration than children with cough. Further studies are needed to determine airway responsiveness in healthy young children and to further assess the contribution of MCT to the clinical diagnosis in this age group.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)720-727
Number of pages8
JournalPediatric Pulmonology
Volume44
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Pediatrics
  • Provocation tests
  • Pulmonary function tests

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