There has been few reports about the relation between persistent asthmatic symptoms and MEFVC.
In this study, we performed MEFV maneuvers for asthmatic patients in order to clarify the relations between asthmatic attacks and MEFV curves, especially, to clarify the relation between the attacks provoked by spirometry and MEFV curves.
The results obtained were as follows;
1. Maximal expiratory flow-volume curves (MEFVC) showed marked reductions in flow rates all over the lung volumes both in the persistent wheezing period and in the persistent mild attack period, but there was little difference in MEFVC between two periods.
2. In a case of the attack provoked, whatever the causes might be, i.e., common cold or exercise (spirometry), there was no difference in flow rates near the peak flow rate level between two MEFV patterns, but there were differences in FVC reduction and flow rate changes in low lung volumes between the two MEFV patterns. The MEFV patterns showed marked reductions in flow rates all over the lung volumes and showed themselves squashed between the two MEFV patterns.
3. In a case of the attack provoked by the MEFV maneuvers, the MEFVC showed a marked reduction in the flow rates all over the lung volumes, especially at the high lung volumes, and it looked like squashed.
4. The measurement of the MEFVC is effective in taking care of asthmatic patients.
