Upper airway obstruction masquerading as exercise induced bronchospasm in an elite road cyclist.
This case concerns an elite road cyclist who complained of occasional dyspnoea and inspiratory difficulty during intense exercise. Clinical examination was normal and the final diagnosis was vocal cord dysfunction, a paradoxical closure of the vocal cords during inspiration which is highly associated with inspiratory stridor at high rates of ventilation. Awareness by the sports physician of this not uncommon condition is important to avoid misdiagnosis.
Australian Institute of Sport, Sports Medicine, PO Box 176, Belconnen, ACT 2616, Australia. fallonk@ausport.gov.au
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Fallon
D000328:Adult; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001642:Bicycling; D001986:Bronchial Spasm / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014797:Vital Capacity; D014827:Vocal Cords