The prevalence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) to methacholine inhalation in a consecutive series of 21 patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome was studied prospectively. Slight to severe BHR was seen in 12/20 (60%) of the patients. Ten of 12 patients with BHR (83%) had a non-productive cough, wheezing, or intermittent breathlessness. Bronchial hyperresponsiveness was more common in pat...

A double blind, crossover study was undertaken to determine whether non-specific hyperresponsiveness in subjects with asthma was reduced by long term treatment with sodium cromoglycate and, if so, whether this was related to change in lung function. Forty four adult asthmatic subjects (41 atopic, three non-atopic) entered the one year study at intervals staggered over six months. After a baseli...

Perceived nasal and bronchial hyperresponsiveness to tobacco smoke and cold air were assessed in 912 working men in the Paris area. Baseline lung function measurements and peripheral leucocyte counts with standard differential counts were performed. At least one perceived nasal or bronchial hyperresponsiveness symptom was reported by 15-7%. Current smoking was significantly less frequent among ...

It has been suggested that, in epidemiological studies, asthma should be defined as symptomatic bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR). This paper critically examines the validity of this and alternative methods of defining asthma by reviewing population-based studies validating BHR and symptom questionnaires against asthma defined on the basis of a clinical assessment. It is emphasized that a sin...

Bronchial hyperresponsiveness to inhaled histamine in smokers is associated with an accelerated annual decline in FEV1 and low baseline FEV1 values. The evolution of bronchial hyperresponsiveness and whether it precedes or follows the accelerated decline in FEV1 and reduction in FEV1 is unknown. Measurements of the provocative concentration of inhaled histamine required to reduce FEV1 by 20% (P...

According to the most recent definition, bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways associated with reversible airway obstruction and increased airway responsiveness to a variety of stimuli. An intuitive inference from this definition is that a causal relationship may exist between airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness. Along this line of reasoning, most of ...

Recent studies revealed an importance of a monomeric GTP-binding protein, RhoA, in contraction of bronchial smooth muscle (BSM). RhoA and its downstream have been proposed as a new target for the treatment of airway hyperresponsiveness in asthma. Statins are known to inhibit the functional activation of RhoA via the depletion of geranylgeranylpyrophosphate. To determine the beneficial effects o...

Leukotrienes (LTs) are pro-inflammatory mediators that contribute to the pathophysiological features of asthma. The relationship between the amounts of LTB4 and LTC4 produced by the leukocytes of asthmatic patients on the one hand and immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated allergy, asthma exacerbations and bronchial hyperresponsiveness was studied. Leukocytes were obtained from peripheral blood drawn ...