Bronchial inhalation challenge with ultrasonically nebulized saline; comparison to exercise-induced asthma.
The airway response to ultrasonically nebulized sodium chloride of increasing concentration (0.9%, 2.5%, 5%, 10%, and 20%) was assessed in twenty asthmatic patients and five healthy subjects. Their response was compared to a standard exercise provocation test. Each concentration was inhaled for five minutes and the airway response was assessed by the measurement of the maximal expiratory flow volume curves. While only 65% of the patients developed significant bronchoconstriction to exercise, 90% had such response to inhaled sodium chloride of 20% or less. None of the healthy subjects showed any significant airway response. It is concluded that the inhalation of hypertonic sodium chloride is a sensitive method for the evaluation of airway hyperreactivity and can be used instead of the exercise provocation test in asthmatic patients.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols; D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001250:Asthma, Exercise-Induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006982:Hypertonic Solutions; D008297:Male; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012965:Sodium Chloride
D000336:Aerosols; D006982:Hypertonic Solutions; D012965:Sodium Chloride