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Airway responsiveness in infants: Comparison of inhaled and nasally instilled methacholine
Author(s) -
Tepper Robert S.,
Steffan Michael
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
pediatric pulmonology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.866
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1099-0496
pISSN - 8755-6863
DOI - 10.1002/ppul.1950160111
Subject(s) - medicine , methacholine , airway , anesthesia , respiratory disease , lung
Abstract Airway responsiveness of infants is evaluated during sleep and the infants inhale the bronchial challenge agent via the nasal airway. Since stimulation of the nasal airway may produce bronchoconstriction, it is unclear whether the observed response in the infants results from deposition of the aerosol in the lower airways or from stimulation of nasal receptors. Therefore, in 6 healthy infants we compared the changes in partial expiratory flow‐volume (PEFV) curves produced by aerosol inhalation of methacholine and the changes produced by instillation of equivalent doses of methacholine liquid into the nares. Following aerosol, the peak expiratory flow and the flow at functional residual capacity decreased, PEFV curves became concave in shape, and the oxygen saturation (Sa o 2 ) decreased. The highest methacholine concentration inhaled by any infant was 1.25 mg/mL. In contrast to aerosol delivery, a maximal methacholine concentration of 10.0 mg/mL was instilled into the nares of all 6 infants without any change in maximal flow at functional respiratory capacity (V max FRC) or Sa o2 . There was a significant decrease in peak flow and flattening of the PEFV curves at higher lung volumes; however, the PEFV curve remained convex in shape at the lower lung volumes. The changes in the PEFV curve following nasal instillation of methacholine are consistent with an increase in nasal resistance and no change in the lower airways. We conclude that the bronchoconstriction observed following inhaled methacholine does not result from stimulation of nasal receptors. Pediatr Pulmonol. 1993; 16:54–58. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.