Table Info

Table 1.

Non-invasive available techniques for small airway function and their feasibility in children

Method	Small airway function	Feasibility in children
IOS	R5–R20, X5, AX, Fres	H
SBNW or MBNW test	Slope phase III, CV, CC, Sacin, Scond	H
Spirometry	FEF25–75%, FVC, FVC/SVC	M
Body plethysmography	RV, RV/TLC	M
eNO	Alveolar eNO	M
Sputum induction	Late phase sputum	L
Bronchoscopy	Transbronchial biopsy, BAL	L
HRCT	Air trapping, airway wall thickness	L
CT and computational fluid dynamics	Changes in airway volume and resistance	L
Nuclear medicine (scintigraphy, SPECT, PET)	Regional ventilation defects	L
3He-MRI	Non-ventilated lung volume	L

R5: respiratory system resistance (Rrs) at 5 Hz; X5: respiratory system reactance (Xrs) at 5 Hz; AX: area of reactance; Fres: resonant frequency; SBNW: single breath nitrogen washout; MBNW: multiple breath nitrogen washout; CV: closing volume; CC: closing capacity; Sacin: ventilation heterogeneity in the acinar airways; Scond: ventilation heterogeneity in the conducting airways; SVC: slow vital capacity; RV: residual volume; TLC: total lung capacity; eNO: exhaled nitric oxide; BAL: bronchoalveolar lavage; CT: computerized tomography; HRCT: high resolution CT; SPECT: single-photon emission CT; PET: positron emission tomography; 3He-MRI: 3helium-magnetic resonance imaging; H: high; M: medium; L: low (The abbreviations “H”, “M”, and “L” for “high”, “medium”, and “low”, respectively, are only applicable in the Table)

Note. Adapted from “Small airway dysfunction and poor asthma control: a dangerous liaison,” by Cottini M, Licini A, Lombardi C, Bagnasco D, Comberiati P, Berti A. Clin Mol Allergy. 2021;19:7 (https://clinicalmolecularallergy.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12948-021-00147-8#Abs1). CC BY.

Declarations

Author contributions

PC, MC, ML, and AB: Conceptualization, Investigation, Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. CL and DP: Writing—review & editing, Validation, Supervision. All authors read and approved the submitted version.

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Ethical approval

Not applicable.

Consent to participate

Not applicable.

Consent to publication

Not applicable.

Availability of data and materials

Not applicable.

Funding

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Copyright

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