Patient Care

The Asthma and Allergy Center

Mario Castro, M.D. supervises the Pulmonary Function Laboratory at The Asthma Center and Allergy Center of Washington University School of Medicine at Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital. The 4,500-square-foot facility opened in 1990 and is fully equipped for physiologic testing, including a body plethysmograph for assessment of lung volumes and airway resistance, inhalation challenge studies (methacholine, allergen, and cold air) and exercise testing equipment. The staff consists of a team of teaching pediatric/adult allergists, along with various support personnel who provide a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, individualized approach to the treatment of asthma and other airway diseases. Interaction with faculty allergists promotes a better understanding of the scope of allergic diseases -- thus relationship to the lung and appropriate diagnostic and treatment studies. In addition, fellows have the opportunity to interpret pulmonary function tests, including cardiopulmonary exercise and bronchoprovocation testing, as well as learning how to set up a pulmonary function lab, including equipment purchases, quality control measures, etc.