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Less small airway dysfunction in asymptomatic bronchial hyperresponsiveness than in asthma
Author(s) -
Boudewijn I. M.,
Telenga E. D.,
Wiel E.,
Molen T.,
Schiphof L.,
ten Hacken N. H. T.,
Postma D. S.,
Berge M.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1111/all.12242
Subject(s) - asymptomatic , medicine , methacholine , provocation test , spirometry , asthma , bronchial hyperresponsiveness , airway , airway hyperresponsiveness , pulmonary function testing , anesthesia , cardiology , respiratory disease , lung , pathology , alternative medicine
Background Bronchial hyperresponsiveness ( BHR ) can be present in subjects without any respiratory symptoms. Little is known about the role of the small airways in asymptomatic subjects with BHR . Methods We investigated small airway function assessed by spirometry and impulse oscillometry, as well as B org dyspnea scores at baseline and during a methacholine provocation test in 15 subjects with asymptomatic BHR , 15 asthma patients, and 15 healthy controls. Results At baseline, small airway function ( R 5 – R 20 and X 5 ) was comparable between subjects with asymptomatic BHR and healthy controls, whereas asthma patients showed small airway dysfunction as reflected by higher R 5 – R 20 and lower X 5 values. During methacholine provocation, small airway dysfunction was more severe in asthma patients than in subjects with asymptomatic BHR . Interestingly, a higher increase in small airway dysfunction during methacholine provocation was associated with a higher increase in B org dyspnea scores in subjects with asymptomatic BHR , but not in asthma patients. Conclusion S ubjects with asymptomatic BHR may experience fewer symptoms in daily life because they have less small airway dysfunction.