IMSP Autumn Conference Nov. 29th to Dec. 1st 2002 in Greifswald
Lung function and Asthma
Lecture by M. Altesellmeier, Physician at the Centre for Internal Medicine, University of Greifswald
The second lecture on Saturday morning was held by M. Altesellmeier who is a physician at the Centre for Internal Medicine at the University of Greifswald.
In the beginning the lecturer gave an overview over the physiology of the lung. We got a detailed summary of pulmonary function tests by the means of spirometry. Dealing with asthma as an obstructive ventilation disorder the FEV1 (Forced Expiratory Volume per second) is a very important lung parameter. The forced expiration after maximum inspiration is measured. A healthy person should be able to exhale 80% of his VC (Vital Capacity) within one second. Persons suffering from asthma bronchiale achieve lower results. Other possibilities to measure lung function are body plethysmography which does not play an important role in everyday examination of asthma patients and the peak flow. This is a small and helpful instrument to judge the success of a therapy by asking the patient to record the results in an asthma diary at home.
Other main points of the lecture were the four classifications of asthma and asthma therapy. The pathology of asthma bronchiale is marked by the trias of bronchospasm, swelling of the mucous membrane and production of thick, viscous mucus. In acute phases of asthma bronchiale patients often suffer from great fear, so first means of therapy is to calm them down. Further therapy depends on the severeness and the form of asthma which can occur as an intrinsic (allergic) and a extrinsic (infectious) form as well as mixed forms. The severeness can be divided in grade zero to three. Inhaled steroids, 2-sympathomimetics, theophylline and antihistamines are frequently used medications.
To sum up the lecture representing a wide range of clinical aspects of asthma bronchiale and lung function was an interesting contribution to the topic of the weekend and served as a basis for further discussion during the workshops and breaks.
(Bettina Marks, 5th semester)