Past, present and future uses of methacholine testing.
Methacholine challenge testing is a valuable diagnostic and research tool used by clinicians to assist in the diagnosis of asthma, and by researchers to understand disease pathophysiology and assess novel therapeutic efficacy. The use of methacholine challenge in asthma relates to its direct effect on airway smooth muscle (i.e., bronchoconstriction) as a measure of airway hyperresponsiveness, a cardinal feature of asthma. Airway hyperresponsiveness has been documented in other airway disorders, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis and allergic rhinitis; however, there is little clinical application of methacholine challenge in these conditions as a diagnostic or disease management tool. The authors will review the aspects of methacholine challenge testing, as they relate to asthma, and point out its usefulness in clinical research. A brief review of past (historical) uses and speculation as to the future uses of methacholine challenge will also be discussed.
Department of Medicine, Division of Respirology, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Royal University Hospital, University of Saskatchewan, 103 Hospital Drive, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0W8, Canada. beth.davis@usask.ca
Beth E
BE
Davis
Donald W
DW
Cockcroft
D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000266:history / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests / Q000266:history / Q000639:trends; D016084:Bronchoconstriction; D016085:Bronchoconstrictor Agents / Q000266:history; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016210:Methacholine Chloride / Q000266:history; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D016085:Bronchoconstrictor Agents; D016210:Methacholine Chloride