BACKGROUND Inhaled frusemide but not bumetanide, another loop diuretic, reduces bronchial responsiveness to sodium metabisulphite (MBS). To investigate whether the effect of frusemide could be mediated through mechanisms other than Na+/K+/Cl- cotransporter inhibition, the effects of amiloride--an inhibitor of sodium channels in the airway epithelium--and of acetazolamide--a specific inhibitor o...

Perception of asthma symptoms shows a wide interindividual variability. Poor perception of airflow obstruction may lead to undertreatment of asthma. We reviewed the possibility of using a simple test to detect poor perceivers of bronchoconstriction as part of the investigation of asthmat. We studied 150 consecutive subjects referred for assessment of airway responsiveness. All had a histamine P...

In patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, there is chronic airway inflammation with increased leakage of plasma proteins into the airway lumen, which can be reduced by inhaled glucocorticosteroids. Nedocromil sodium is an anti-inflammatory drug, and we questioned whether it also affects the leakage of plasma proteins. In a double-blind placebo-controlled study we investi...

To throw light on the question of whether the increase in bronchial responsiveness seen during the night is due to increased airflow obstruction, nine asthmatic children with increased airflow obstruction at night (group 1) were compared with nine without (group 2). The mean fall in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) between 16.00 and 04.00 hours was 21.9% in group 1 and 2.3% in grou...

A 35 year-old nonatopic woman was referred to the hospital for possible work-related asthma. She had worked as an operator, at a plant producing polypropylene bags, for the previous four yrs. Her main complaint was a productive cough with dyspnoea and wheezing, as well as rhinitis over the past 3 yrs. She had been absent from work for 6 months on maternity leave, and had improved greatly. She w...

BACKGROUND The effect of cessation of exposure to pollen on the concentration-response curves to inhaled methacholine was investigated. METHODS Methacholine inhalation challenges (up to 200 mg/ml) were performed in 13 non-asthmatic patients with grass and/or Parietaria pollen-induced rhinitis during the pollen season, and one and four months after it. Concentration-response curves were charac...

Thirty patients with stable chronic airflow obstruction receiving regular bronchodilator treatment were studied to determine whether the level of bronchial responsiveness, transfer factor for carbon monoxide (TLCO), or the mechanical properties of the lung predicted a bronchodilator response to oral corticosteroid treatment. Before treatment mean (SD) FEV1 was 48% (16%) of the predicted value (...

We compared spirometry (FEV1) and airway impedance (z) in the assessment of airway responsiveness to histamine. Airway impedance was measured by the oscillator technique during quiet breathing; both measurements were made twice after each increment of histamine during the challenge. Percentage change in impedance was related to percentage change in FEV1 according to: -delta z = 1.09-2.66 (delta...

The utilisation of nocturnal wheeze monitoring and quantification for assessment of asthma activity was studied in symptomatic school-aged children before and during treatment. Twelve children 6-14 yrs of age with mild or moderate untreated asthma were studied at home three times: before, 48 h and 6 weeks into treatment with 5 mg montelukast daily. Lung sounds were recorded overnight by an auto...

Asthmatic patients with nasal polyposis (NP) have been reported to have a high prevalence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) and a worsening of quality of life (QoL). The aim of this casecontrol study was to evaluate if NP is a determinant of BHR and is responsible for modifying the QoL in asthmatic subjects. Eighty-nine asthmatic subjects, including 24 patients with NP and 65 patients with...