BRONCHIAL-ASTHMA WITHOUT INCREASED AIRWAY REACTIVITY

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 63  (1) , 5-12
Abstract
Nine asthmatic patients with < 10% decrease in 1s forced expiratory volume (FEV1) after inhaling acetylcholine were observed. Of these patients, 4 with intrinsic asthma were studied before, during and after a spontaneously occurring asthmatic episode. FEV1 was significantly less (P < 0.02) during airway obstruction than before and after recovery. The average decrease in FEV1 after inhalation of acetylcholine, before and after the obstructive episode, was 5%. In 1 patient acetylcholine inhaled during the obstructive episode was followed by only 1% change in FEV1. Histamine aerosols, administered before or after the obstructive episode, induced an average drop in FEV1 of 4.7%. A 5th patient with extrinsic asthma had a 27% decrease in vital capacity following acetylcholine, during the exposure period to natural allergens, but < 6% drop in FEV1 outside the season when asymptomatic. The average diminution in FEV1 after histamine and acetylcholine was < 3% in 13 healthy subjects, while in 14 consecutive asthmatics it averaged 40%. Airway hyperreactivity is not a constant feature in bronchial asthma.

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