Comparison of methacholine and mannitol challenges: importance of method of methacholine inhalation

Table 2 Mannitol compared to methacholine deep inhalation methods and results

	MCH method	Definition of positive MCH	Asthma		Asthma		Non Asthma		Non Asthma
	MCH method	Definition of positive MCH	MCH +ve	MCH total	MAN +ve	MAN total	MCH +ve	MCH total	MAN +ve	MAN total
1	DeVilbiss 40	PD20 ≤ 7.8 μmol^a	25	25	25	25
2	Nebicheck Dosimeter	PD20 ≤ 8.0 μmol^a					16	16	1	16
3	Mefar dosimeter	PD20 ≤ 2 mg^a–10.2 μmol	9	11	12	13	7	86	3	86
4	Nebicheck Dosimeter	PD20 ≤ 8.0 μmol^a	43	53	43	53
5	ATS Dosimeter	PC20 ≤ 16 mg/mL	122	240	132	240	34	135	36	135
6	Mefar dosimeter^b	PD20 ≤ 2 mg^a–10.2 μmol	22	48	22	48
7	Spira dosimeter	PD20 ≤ 8.0 μmol^a	18	42	17	42	15	193	14	193
8	Spira dosimeter	PD20 ≤ 8.0 μmol^a	35	51	30	51	37	187	3	187
9	Spira dosimeter	PC20 ≤ 16 mg/mL	9	11	10	11	0	17	0	17
10	Mefar dosimeter	PC20 ≤ 8 mg/mL	74	123	76	123
11	Chai dosimeter	PC20 ≤ 16 mg/mL	22	50	24	50	1	54	4	54
12	Jaeger dosimeter	PD20 ≤ 7.8 μmol^a	79	122	46	122	32	68	11	68
13	Spira dosimeter	PC20 ≤ 16 mg/mL	90	134	100	134
	Total %		548 60.2%	910	537 58.9%	912	142 18.8%	756	72 9.5%	756
	Exclude studies 1, 2 and 9 Total %		514 58.8%	874	502 57.3%	876	126 17.4%	723	71 9.8%	723

ISSN: 1710-1492