Premium
Comparison of bronchial responsiveness to histamine in asthma, allergic rhinitis and allergic sensitization at the age of 7 years
Author(s) -
Nickel R.,
Lau S.,
Niggemann B.,
Sommerfeld C.,
Wahn U.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
clinical and experimental allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.462
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2222
pISSN - 0954-7894
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2745.2002.01482.x
Subject(s) - medicine , asymptomatic , asthma , allergy , immunology , histamine , sensitization , allergic asthma , atopy
Summary Background Bronchial responsiveness (BR) to histamine or methacholin is a common finding in adult non‐asthmatic patients with allergic rhinitis. Objective We tested whether BR is also present in children with a comparatively short history of allergic rhinitis in a paediatric cohort. Methods We performed pulmonary function tests and histamine challenges in a total of 654 children (age 7 years, participants of the German Multicenter Allergy Study) and compared PC 20 FEV 1 values in children with asthma, allergic rhinitis, asymptomatic allergic sensitization and non‐atopic controls. Results Most pronounced BR to histamine was observed in allergic asthmatics ( n = 28), irrespective of the presence or absence of allergic rhinitis. Furthermore, PC 20 FEV 1 values in non‐asthmatic children with allergic rhinitis ( n = 24) were not significantly different from those seen in asymptomatic atopic ( n = 54) or non‐atopic controls ( n = 92). Conclusions In contrast to adult study populations, 7‐year‐old non‐asthmatic children with allergic rhinitis do not show a higher degree of BR than asymptomatic atopic or non‐atopic controls. Therefore, secondary preventive measures in non‐asthmatic children with allergic rhinitis (such as regular local anti‐inflammatory therapy or specific immunotherapy) should be studied and applied more intensely to prevent bronchial hyper‐responsiveness (BHR) and asthma in this high‐risk group.