Provocations with perfume in the eyes induce airway symptoms in patients with sensory hyperreactivity.
BACKGROUND
In earlier studies, we have shown that patients with a history of sensory hyperreactivity develop asthma-like symptoms when exposed to strong scents, even if they cannot smell any scent.


METHODS
For study of possible pathophysiologic mechanisms behind sensory hyperreactivity, the patients' airways and eyes were separately exposed to a common inducing factor, perfume. Eleven patients with a history of hyperreactivity to chemical trigger factors, such as perfume, were provoked single-blindly in a placebo-controlled, randomized study. During airway exposure, the eyes were covered and, during the eye exposure, the patients inhaled fresh air. A special face mask or a nose clip was used to avoid any smell.


RESULTS
During the 30-min exposure to perfume, there was a gradual increase in three main symptoms; i.e., eye irritation, cough, and dyspnea, after both the airway and eye exposures. The increases were significant compared with placebo.


CONCLUSIONS
Asthma-like and other symptoms, such as irritation of the eyes, may be induced by exposure of both the airways and the eyes in patients with sensory hyperreactivity. This points to the importance of studying the sensory nervous system, not only in the airways, but also in other organs.
Millqvist
E
E
Asthma and Allergy Centre, University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Sweden.
Bengtsson
U
U
Löwhagen
O
O
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000276:immunology*; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D005123:Eye / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018777:Multiple Chemical Sensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D010476:Perfume / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012119:Respiration; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*
D010476:Perfume