Related Experiment Videos
Bronchial responsiveness to histamine in wheezy infants
A Prendiville1, S Green, M Silverman
1Department of Paediatrics and Neonatal Medicine, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, London.
Thorax
|February 1, 1987
Summary
Infant airway responsiveness to histamine was studied in wheezy babies. Most infants showed significant bronchial response, indicating histamine-induced airway hyperresponsiveness in infancy.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Respiratory Physiology
Background:
- Airway responsiveness in infancy remains poorly understood.
- Wheezy infants often present with symptoms suggestive of increased airway reactivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate bronchial responsiveness to histamine in infants.
- To determine if infants exhibit histamine-induced airway hyperresponsiveness.
Main Methods:
- Eleven wheezy infants (mean age 8.7 months) inhaled increasing doses of nebulized histamine.
- Airway responsiveness was assessed by measuring the provocative concentration of histamine causing a 30% fall in maximum expiratory flow at functional residual capacity (PC30) using partial forced expiratory flow-volume curves.
- Tests were repeated for consistency.
Main Results:
- Nine out of 11 infants demonstrated airway responsiveness, with a PC30 less than 8 g/l.
- Lower PC30 values correlated with more severe baseline airway obstruction.
- Histamine challenge induced cough, wheeze, and altered flow-volume curves.
Conclusions:
- This study provides clear evidence of intrathoracic airway responsiveness to histamine in infancy.
- Infants, particularly those with wheeze, exhibit significant airway reactivity to histamine.
- Findings suggest a potential role for airway hyperresponsiveness in infantile wheeze syndromes.