Mondal P, et al. - In this retrospective chart review involving 56 children with sickle cell disease (C-SCD) and 36 controls (asthmatics without SCD), researchers compared the accuracy of impulse oscillometry (IOS) vs spirometry in making the diagnosis of asthma and evaluating age-related pulmonary changes in C-SCD. Based on the pre-referral diagnosis, C-SCD were grouped into asthma and non-asthmatics and compared PFTs between two groups. IOS parameters had a significant association in C-SCD (possibly due to the stiff lungs) with height/age, but not in controls. The authors concluded that IOS had advantages over C-SCD spirometry, as it is feasible in early childhood, provides insight into pulmonary mechanics, and is more sensitive to bronchodilator response detection.