title: Changes in bronchial responsiveness following nasal provocation with allergen.
abstract: The relationship between upper airway inflammation and asthma is controversial. In the current study, we sought to investigate the relationship between allergic rhinitis and lower airway dysfunction by performing double-blind, randomized nasal challenges with allergen or placebo. Subjects were selected for a prior history of asthma exacerbations after the onset of seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms. After the induction of a marked nasal-allergic reaction (with a technique of nasal provocation that limited allergen delivery to the nose), there were no changes in FEV1, specific conductance, or lung volumes either 30 minutes or 4 1/2 hours after nasal allergen challenge, nor any changes in peak flow rates followed hourly until the next day. However, nasal provocation with allergen resulted in a relative increase in bronchial responsiveness to methacholine compared with that to placebo (p = 0.011 at 30 minutes and p = 0.0009 at 4 1/2 hours after challenge). Our study suggests that, although a nasal-allergic response does not induce airflow limitation of the lower airways, it can alter bronchial responsiveness.
authors.affiliation: National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, Department of Medicine and Pediatrics, Denver, Colo.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Corren
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Adinoff
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Irvin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; D009299:Nasal Provocation Tests / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D016210:Methacholine Chloride