title: Airway hyperresponsiveness in elite swimmers: is it a transient phenomenon?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Airway hyperresponsiveness is highly prevalent in competitive swimmers, but it is unknown whether this is transient or persistent.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To document changes in airway responsiveness and airway inflammation in elite swimmers during intense training and rest.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen swimmers and 16 healthy controls completed a standardized questionnaire, allergy skin prick tests, exhaled nitric oxide measurement, eucapnic voluntary hyperpnea testing, methacholine challenge, and induced sputum analysis. Testing was performed during intense swimming and after at least 2 weeks of rest.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixteen swimmers and 13 controls were atopic. Airway responsiveness to methacholine and eucapnic voluntary hyperpnea was significantly higher in swimmers than in controls (P < .0001). A significant decrease in airway responsiveness was observed from training to rest in swimmers only (P < .005). This occurred with both methacholine challenge--with PC(20) values of 6.0 mg/mL and 12.8 mg/mL, respectively--and eucapnic voluntary hyperpnea testing--with a maximum fall in FEV(1) after voluntary testing of 14.1 L and 10.1 L, respectively. Eight of 12 swimmers with airway hyperresponsiveness during intense training had normal airway responsiveness during rest. No airway inflammation occurred, and no significant change in this parameter was observed from training to rest.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Training may contribute to the development of airway hyperresponsiveness in elite swimmers, but this seems reversible in many athletes after training cessation for at least 2 weeks.
authors.affiliation: Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. valerie.bougault@univ-lille2.fr
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bougault
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Turmel
authors.forename: Louis-Philippe
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Boulet
mesh_terms: D056352:Athletes; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012882:Skin Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013550:Swimming; D055815:Young Adult