title: Effect of bronchial challenge on breathing patterns and arterial oxygenation in stable asthma.
abstract: The effect of histamine or methacholine inhalational challenge on breathing patterns and oxygen saturation was investigated in ten stable asthmatic patients. We used the respiratory inductive plethysmograph to record respiratory timing and minute ventilation along with an ear oximeter to measure oxygen saturation (SaO2). As FEV1 fell during the challenge procedure, SaO2 also fell (average 3 percent). Furthermore, with histamine challenge, expiratory time (Te), inspiratory time (Ti), and breath period (Ttot) all increased; minute ventilation probably also fell. These changes in breathing pattern and SaO2 were reversed by inhalation of a beta 2-agonist. However, no such changes in breathing patterns were observed with methacholine challenge despite a similar fall in FEV1. Bronchial challenge produces hypoxia in stable asthmatic patients, which might result from a combination of hypoventilation with alteration in alveolar ventilation/perfusion relationships.
authors.affiliation: Rayne Laboratory, Department of Respiratory Medicine, University of Edinburgh, City Hospital, Scotland.
authors.forename: I C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Catterall
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Douglas
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Flenley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006632:Histamine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; D008688:Methacholine Compounds; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D008688:Methacholine Compounds; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; D006632:Histamine; D010100:Oxygen