Diagnosis, definition and classification in chronic generalized respiratory disorder. A proposal to come to a manageable clinical classification system in the human being. An answer to the stimulating report of the ACCP-ATS joint committee on pulmonary nomenclature.

It appears that the definition of a syndrome is to a large extent determined by the approach of the researcher. Particular emphasis is given to the very great interest of a classification as meticulous as possible, using all relevant clinical data not only as snapshots, but also over the longest possible observation period. Such a classification of carefully followed individual cases may contribute essentially to the identification of syndromes and to the detection of pathomechanisms and pathogenesis.