[Functional laryngeal obstruction]

We describe 4 patients with reversible obstruction of the upper airways, a condition that usually presents with crises of dyspnea and respiratory sounds. No organic cause could be identified and the symptoms were initially confused with those of bronchial asthma. During episodes, the flow-volume curve suggested obstruction of the upper airways with poor reproducibility and repeatedly normal resistance values. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy allowed us to confirm the functional nature of the obstruction in these cases.