Reproducibility of maximum expiratory flow
The reproducibility of PEF, MEF50%FVC (= FEF50) and MMEF (= FEF25-75%)
is derived from flow-volume curves with either the largest FVC,
or the largest sum of FEV1
+ FVC (ATS, ATS/ERS), or from flow-volume curves meeting the two recommendations
of the ECCS/ERS. The reproducibility of indices increases in the
order of methods cited. Only one of the ECCS/ERS recommendations
can be used to compute the MMEF, so that there is one missing column.
Two studies led to comparable results; the findings shown on the right relate to adolescents.
Deriving maximum expiratory flow from the FVC maneuver with the largest sum of FEV1 + FVC, is nowadays the recommended procedure.
Literature about selecting flow-volume indices
- Peslin R, Bohadana A, Hannhart B, Jardin P. Comparison of various methods for reading maximal expiratory flow-volume curves. Am Rev Respir Dis 1979; 119: 271-278.
- Schrader PC, Quanjer PhH, van Zomeren BC, DeGroodt EG, Wever AMJ, Wise ME. Selection of variables from maximum expiratory flow-volume curves. Bull Eur Physiopathol Respir 1978; 14: 43-49.
- American Thoracic Society. Standardization of spirometry: 1994 update. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1995; 152: 1107-1136.
- Quanjer PhH, Tammeling GJ, Cotes JE, Pedersen OF, Peslin R, Yernault JC. Lung volumes and forced ventilatory flows. Eur Respir J 1993; 6 suppl. 16: 5-40.
- Miller MR et al. Standardisation of spirometry. ATS/ERS task force: standardisation of lung function testing. Eur Respir J 2005; 26: 319-338.