Airway Resistance, Airway Conductance, Specific Airway Resistance, and Specific Airway Conductance in Children

Abstract

Summary: In 82 healthy children and in asthmatic children before and during positive allergen provocation test, airway resistance (R_aw), airway conductance (G_aw), specific airway resistance (SR_aw), and specific airway conductance (SG_aw) were measured by body plethysmography during quiet breathing. R_aw over total flow range (R_{aw t}) and R_aw at a flow rate of 0.5 liter/sec (R_{aw 0.5}) are compared: R_{aw 0.5} is 10.3% smaller and shows a smaller coefficient of variation in healthy children. This is interpreted as a less important influence of variations of glottis opening. SR_{aw t} mean value is 7.08 hPa·sec; SG_{aw t} mean value is 0.141 hPa^-1·sec^-1. In asthmatic children, R_{aw 0.5} proves to be a more sensitive parameter for the evaluation of inhalation provocation tests than R_{aw t}. The most sensitive indices of obstruction in the central and more peripheral bronchi are SR_{aw 0.5} and SG_{aw 0.5}.

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