TY - JOUR T1 - Small airway abnormalities in elderly asthmatics with fixed airflow obstruction vs. COPD: High-resolution CT and pulmonary functions JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 44 IS - Suppl 58 SP - P2997 AU - Prapaporn Pornsuriyasak AU - Theerasuk Kawamatawong AU - Wasana Thaipisuttikul AU - Naparat Amornputtisathaporn AU - Pornpimol O-Charoen AU - Thitiporn Suwatanapongched Y1 - 2014/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P2997.abstract N2 - Background: Small airway dysfunction has been increasingly recognized in asthma and COPD. We aimed to compare the physiologic tests and high-resolution CT (HRCT) suggesting small airway abnormalities between elderly asthmatics with fixed airflow obstruction and COPD.Methods: Twenty-five asthmatics and 22 COPD patients were prospectively examined. All underwent spirometry, body plethysmography, carbon-monoxide diffusion capacity (Kco), impulse oscillometry, and HRCT. The extent of air-trapping (AT) and emphysema and the degree of bronchial wall thickness (BWT) were visually scored from the six levels of paired expiratory/inspiratory HRCT and were correlated with pulmonary functions.Results: The frequency of small airway abnormalities was not different (68% in asthmatics and 59% in COPD). Both groups had similar TLC (92±13% vs. 96±12%), RV (101±24% vs. 95±25%), and the degree of BWT. R5 was higher in asthmatics than in COPD (5.5±2.0 vs.4.2±1.7 cmH2O.L-1.s-1, p=0.02), and R20 (3.4±1.0 vs.2.6±0.7 cmH2O.L-1.s-1, p=0.001). Emphysema and bronchiectasis were significantly more frequent in COPD. Correlations of BWT, AT and emphysema with pulmonary functions were summarized.View this table:Conclusion: Small airway abnormalities determined by physiologic tests and HRCT were similar in elderly asthmatics and COPD. ER -