vocal cord dysfunction can be an asthma mimic

• related: Pulmonology
• tags: #literature

Patients with vocal cord dysfunction can often have wheeze, cough that are intermittent but chronic and reproducible. These characteristics can be similar to asthma.

One can differentiate between the two with physical exam and PFT. On physical exam, patients with vocal cord dysfunction will have predominantly upper airway wheeze and stridor. On PFT, there will not be bronchodilator response. Methacholine challenge will also be negative, as this is mechanical defect and not reactive inflammation. The inspiratory loop of PFT in vocal cord dysfunction can have flattened appearance.¹

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• Pulmonology
  • vocal cord dysfunction can be an asthma mimic
• The inspiratory loop of PFT in vocal cord dysfunction can have flattened appearance
  • related: vocal cord dysfunction can be an asthma mimic
• upper airway disorders
  • vocal cord dysfunction can be an asthma mimic
• chronic cough differentials
  • Differentials for chronic cough includes chronic upper airway cough syndrome (post nasal drip), GERD, ACE induced cough, vocal cord dysfunction (vocal cord dysfunction can be an asthma mimic), eosinophilic bronchitis, cough variant asthma.