The American Thoracic Society committee on Proficiency Standards for Pulmonary Function Laboratories has recognized the need for a standardized reporting format for pulmonary function tests. Although prior documents have offered guidance on the reporting of test data, there is considerable variability in how these results are presented to end users, leading to potential confusion and miscommunication. This...
A new paper by ERS published on the ERJ aims to update previous publications on bronchial challenge testing and the performance of the methacholine challenge test. This report focuses on general considerations for bronchial challenge testing, then specifically on the performance of the methacholine challenge test (MCT). Direct airway challenges with methacholine are proposed as a diagnostic aid,...
A new review study published on the ERS European Respiratory Review describes the importance of Cardio Pulmonary Exercise Test to evaluate dyspnoea symptoms in Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) patients. This review describes the respiratory physiology of ILD, both at rest and during exercise, and aims to provide comprehensive and updated evidence on the clinical utility of the cardiopulmonary...
A useful scientific review has been published in the Multidisciplinary Respiratory Medicine Journal describing how different physiological/pathological conditions can affect static lung volumes measurement. This review intends to update the reader with the physiological basis, clinical significance and interpretative approaches of the standard static lung volumes and capacities. The review highlighted...
ATS/ERS published on the European Respiratory Journal an update to the 2005 technical standards for single-breath carbon monoxide uptake in the lung. A joint taskforce appointed by the ERS and ATS reviewed the recent literature on the measurement of DLCO and surveyed the current technical capabilities of instrumentation being manufactured around the world. The recommendations in this document represent...
