Changes in arterial oxygen saturation in patients with hyperreactive airways during a histamine inhalation test.
The arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) of 55 adult patients with hyperreactive airways was monitored with an eight-wavelength ear oximeter during a histamine inhalation test. The post-challenge fall (mean +/- s.d.) in peak expiratory flow was 38 +/- 15% of the baseline value; it was accompanied by a fall in SaO2 of 1.1 +/- 1.8 per cent, from 96.6 +/- 1.8 to 95.5 +/- 2.3%. It is concluded that, in the histamine inhalation test used in this study, even the development of marked bronchoconstriction usually causes only slight changes in SaO2.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001986:Bronchial Spasm / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D006632:Histamine; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate
D006632:Histamine; D010100:Oxygen