Spirometry versus flow volume inspiratory and expiratory loop.

P SPIROMETRY VERSUS FLOW VOLUME INSPIRATORY AND EXPIRATORY LOOP To the Editor: I would like to comment on the excellent CME article, “Vocal Cord Dysfunction: An Update” by Leslie M. Gimenez, MD, and Heidi Zafra, MD (Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2011;106:267–275). I compliment the authors on the very thorough review and analysis of the literature. I am concerned by the nomenclature they used in describing the physiologic analysis of intrathoracic or extrathoracic airflow limitation.1 This must be done by flow volume loop analysis and not by a volume time plot or spirometry, as is referred to in the article. At all places where the word spirometry is used, a flow volume inspiratory and expiratory loop should be substituted.