COMBINED EFFECT OF CIGARETTE-SMOKING AND ALLERGIC RHINITIS ON AIRWAY RESPONSIVENESS TO INHALED METHACHOLINE

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Abstract
A group of healthy nonatopic [human] subjects was compared with a group of atopic subjects with allergic rhinitis who were otherwise healthy. They were matched for sex, age and smoking habits; 15 pairs were nonsmokers and 11 pairs were smokers. Threshold of airway response to inhaled methacholine based on partial flow-volume curves was not significantly different between nonatopic nonsmokers and nonsmokers with allergic rhinitis. Smokers with allergic rhinitis had a threshold on the average of 3 doubling doses lower than smokers without allergic rhinitis. There is a combined effect of chronic cigarette smoking and allergic rhinitis affecting nonspecific airway responsiveness.