[The results of exercise challenge in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis]

Allergic rhinitis is considered a risk factor for the future development of bronchial asthma. It therefore seems essential to identify patients who are threatened with this disease and in whom no disturbing bronchial symptoms have already occurred. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of nonspecific bronchial hyperactivity based upon exercise results of patients with pollinosis.

The study encompassed 27 patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis allergic to tree pollens, but without symptoms of asthma. Exercise provocation test were performed in patients in the period before, during and after completion of the pollination period. Additionally, during the pollination period sIgE and nasal eosinophilia were determined. The control group was composed of 12 patients allergic to Artemisia pollen.

In the study group, a pathological result of provocation test was obtained in 1 patient (3.7%) before the pollination period, in 7 patients (25.9%) during and in 4 patients (14.8%) after completion of the pollination period. Subjects with positive test result had higher levels of nasal eosinophilia, while there was no relation between its result and sIgE levels. Only one case of positive exercise challenge was identified among desensitized patients.

During the pollination period nonspecific bronchial hyperreactivity develops in some patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis; it can be sustained for some time after disappearance of pollens from the atmosphere and can be identified using an exercise challenge. Incidence of bronchial hyperreactivity in desensitized patients was lower than in those subjected to symptomatic treatment.