Characteristics of the asthmatic airway response to inhaled diluent

This study was designed to analyze the airway response to an aerosolized diluent in patients with asthma. Fifty percent of the patients responded to diluent with less than a 10% variation from baseline (non responders), but 20% of the patients responded with more than a 25% difference from baseline (responders). This study stresses the need for control data with diluent prior to bronchial challenge with a provocative agent.