THE ASTHMATIC AIRWAY RESPONSE TO INHALED ANTIGEN

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 45  (6) , 338-342
Abstract
The airway response to inhaled antigen was measured in asthmatic patients at 5, 10 and 20 min following bronchial challenges. The overall frequency of positive responses in the 26 individual challenges was 27%. There were no significant differences between the 5-, 10- or 20-min responses. Patients with positive responses to bronchial challenge manifested high-grade skin reactivity by intradermal tests. Positive responses to bronchial challenge occurred only at 1 .times. 10-3 wt/vol concentration of inhaled antigen. Although the degree of methacholine reactivity was related to positive antigen challenge, 2 subjects with a positive challenge had minimal methacholine reactivity.