Which test is used to assess airway responsiveness in PFT?

Bronchoprovocation testing is utilized to evaluate airway responsiveness, specifically assessing how sensitive the airways are to various stimuli. During this test, substances known to induce bronchoconstriction, like methacholine or allergens, are inhaled. The underlying principle is to measure the change in lung function—in particular, forced expiratory volume (FEV1)—in response to these provocatives. A significant decrease in FEV1 indicates heightened airway responsiveness, which is a key component in diagnosing conditions like asthma.

In contrast, the other tests listed assess different aspects of pulmonary function. SpO2 monitoring measures the oxygen saturation of hemoglobin in the blood and is not directly related to airway responsiveness. Lung volume measurement evaluates the capacity of the lungs and their volume but does not specifically assess how the airways react to stimuli. Pulmonary compliance testing assesses the elasticity and stiffness of the lung tissue, which is also unrelated to the responsiveness of the airways themselves. Thus, bronchoprovocation testing is uniquely designed to provide insights into airway responsiveness, making it the correct choice for this question.