The use of methacholine inhalation, methacholine skin testing, distilled water inhalation challenge and eosinophil counts in the evaluation of patients presenting with cough and/or nonwheezing dyspnea.
Twenty-four patients presenting with cough and/or nonwheezing dyspnea were evaluated with methacholine inhalation challenge (MC), distilled water inhalation challenge (DC), intracutaneous tests to varying concentrations of methacholine, total eosinophil counts (TEC), sinus and chest x-rays. We found a statistically significant difference (P less than .005) in the mean TEC in those patients with a positive MC test and those with a negative test. Hyperreactivity of the airways to methacholine in asthmatics is not found in the skin. Distilled water inhalation did not serve to substitute for MC as a test of hyperreactive airways. The TEC is an excellent screening test as a predictor of patients with cough or dyspnea who have hyperreactive airways.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D003371:Cough / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004804:Eosinophils; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008688:Methacholine Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012882:Skin Tests; D014867:Water / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D008688:Methacholine Compounds; D014867:Water