Comparison of ultrasonically nebulized distilled water and cold-air hyperventilation challenges in asthmatic patients

Cold-air hyperventilation (CAHC) and ultrasonically nebulized distilled water (UNDW) challenges were compared in 11 asthmatic patients who were moderately sensitive to methacholine. The challenges were performed on two separate days within one week of each other. Baseline FEV1 on each test day was greater than 70 percent of predicted. Ten of 11 subjects' FEV1 decreased at least 15 percent, and nine of 11 decreased at least 20 percent during the UNDW. Ten of 11 subjects' FEV1 decreased at least 10 percent, and eight of 11 decreased at least 15 percent during the CAHC. Using a Spearman rank coefficient, the results of the CAHC and UNDW were compared; the best correlation between the various CAHC and UNDW measurements equaled only 0.51. The correlation between UNDW and CAHC suggests that the mechanism of action of each challenge may be different.