CORRELATION OF BRONCHIAL RESPONSIVENESS TO DILUENT AND TO HISTAMINE

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  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 49  (3) , 139-141
Abstract
Histamine inhibition tests were performed in 113 subjects, who were then classified by their response to histamine as normal (n = 26), mild bronchial hyperreactivity (n = 32), moderate bronchial hyperreactivity (n = 48) and marked bronchial hyperreactivity (n = 7). The response to inhaled sterile isotonic saline, the diluent, was measured as the percentage of change in FEV1 [forced expiratory volume in 1 s] and the 4 groups were compared. There was a wide range of bronchial response to diluent, between +12 and -29% FEV1 change. There was little difference in the mean FEV1 change of the diluent (all < 2%) in normals, mildly and moderately hyperreactive subjects. The markedly hyperreactive subjects were significantly more responsive to diluent than any other group, showing 11.7 .+-. 4.4% FEV1 fall. The mean bronchial responsiveness to diluent increases with increasingly severe nonspecific bronchial responsiveness to inhaled histamine.