On nasobronchial reflex in asthmatic patients.
In 27 asthmatic patients a single cold stimulus into the nose resulted in a sudden increase of airway resistance, measured continuously by a new forced-oscillations-technique. The effect could be blocked by previous intrabronchial application of an anti-cholinergic drug. In laryngectomised patients, who no longer have a connection between the upper and the lower airpathways, cold stimuli into the nose caused a bronchoconstriction just as it did in the asthmatics. So the cold effect must be based on a reflex mechanism.
D000403:Airway Resistance; D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001986:Bronchial Spasm / Q000503:physiopathology; D003080:Cold Temperature; D006801:Humans; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology*