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Less small airway dysfunction in asymptomatic bronchial hyperresponsiveness than in asthma
I M Boudewijn1, E D Telenga, E van der Wiel
1University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Groningen, the Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD, Groningen, the Netherlands.
Allergy
|October 17, 2013
Summary
Asymptomatic bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) is linked to less small airway dysfunction compared to asthma. This may explain why individuals with BHR experience fewer respiratory symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Respiratory Medicine
- Pulmonology
- Airway Physiology
Background:
- Bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) can exist without respiratory symptoms.
- The role of small airways in asymptomatic BHR requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate small airway function in asymptomatic BHR.
- To compare small airway function and its relationship with dyspnea during methacholine challenge in asymptomatic BHR, asthma patients, and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Spirometry and impulse oscillometry were used to assess small airway function.
- Borg dyspnea scores were recorded at baseline and during methacholine provocation.
- The study included 15 subjects with asymptomatic BHR, 15 asthma patients, and 15 healthy controls.
Main Results:
- Baseline small airway function was similar in asymptomatic BHR and healthy controls, but impaired in asthma patients.
- Asthma patients exhibited more severe small airway dysfunction than asymptomatic BHR during methacholine challenge.
- Increased small airway dysfunction correlated with increased dyspnea in asymptomatic BHR, but not in asthma patients.
Conclusions:
- Asymptomatic BHR is associated with less small airway dysfunction compared to asthma.
- Reduced small airway dysfunction may contribute to the lack of daily respiratory symptoms in individuals with asymptomatic BHR.
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