[Evaluation of the bronchodilator test].

In 105 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease the bronchodilator response to salbutamol aerosol (ventolin) has been studied. According to the initial values of FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in one second) the patients were divided into four groups. Patients with bronchitis in the first group had the initial FEV1 between 600 and 1000 ml and in the second group between 100 and 2000 ml, while asthmatics in the third group had between 100 and 2000 ml and in the fourth group more than 2000 ml. The largest bronchodilator response was obtained in the groups of asthmatics (mean FEV1 increase was 473 +/- 258 ml in the third group and 609 +/- 334 ml in the fourth group). For evaluation of reversibility of obstruction of the respiratory ways after bronchodilatator tests and for better differentiation of chronic obstructive bronchitis and asthma the criteria have been proposed depending on the initial FEV1 values.