Investigations in chronic bronchitis
Evaluation to assist in confirmation of the diagnosis of chronic bronchitis include (1):
- CBC with differential
- Serum procalcitonin – differentiate bacterial from non-bacterial
- Chest x-ray – especially in elderly or when physical findings suggestive of pneumonia
- Sputum culture – when bacterial infection is suspected
- Other helpful tests – oxygen saturation, pulmonary function test
Investigations will usually demonstrate:
- hypercapnia
- hypoxaemia with polycythaemia
- elevated plasma bicarbonate
- sometimes severe nocturnal hypoxaemia
- moderate airways obstruction
- approximately normal lung capacity
- little or no reduction in transfer factor
Reference:
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