Oral tartrazine challenge in childhood asthma: effect on bronchial reactivity.
Ten asthmatic children who gave a history of cough or wheeze after orange drinks, were tested for tartrazine sensitivity. On separate days, either oral tartrazine (1 mg) or a placebo capsule were administered double blind. Bronchial reactivity was measured before, 30 and 60 min after ingestion by means of a histamine-inhalation challenge test. There was no change in baseline lung function after tartrazine, but histamine sensitivity (PC20) increased significantly in four of the children. No response was obtained to a larger dose of tartrazine (10 mg) in four of the non-responders. Alteration in the bronchial reactivity after an oral challenge, appears to be a sensitive means of detecting tartrazine sensitivity.
D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced*; D001391:Azo Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001980:Bronchi / Q000187:drug effects; D002648:Child; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006632:Histamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D013645:Tartrazine / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D001391:Azo Compounds; D006632:Histamine; D013645:Tartrazine