Nine asthmatic patients with an allergy to birch or timothy underwent bronchial allergen provocations on three different trial days, with intervals of 2 to 5 wk. Two weeks prior to one of the provocations, no medication was allowed. Before the other two provocations the patients had been on continuous treatment with oral terbutaline (7.5-mg slow-release pill bid) for 2 wk, which was discontinue...

STUDY OBJECTIVE To examine the baseline factors influencing the occurrence and magnitude of immediate- and late-phase responses in asthmatic patients after an allergen-induced bronchial provocation test (A-BPT). DESIGN Cross-sectional analysis in a homogenous group of 31 mild, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus-allergic patients with asthma. SETTING Allergy Department, Hospital Virgen del Camin...

Allergen-induced inhibition of pulmonary surfactant in asthma may promote airway oedema and consequently potentiate the severity of the asthmatic response. A randomised, single-blind, cross-over study of an inhaled synthetic phospholipid dry-powder surfactant (Pumactant) was conducted in atopic, asthmatic subjects with previously documented early and late asthmatic responses (EAR and LAR) to an...

BACKGROUND Natural rubber latex (NRL) allergy in workers using rubber gloves has been an occupational health problem for the last 10 years. In the case of the occupational agents, clinical history may be far from conclusive; hence, appropriate provocation should be carried out. The objective was to evaluate the usefulness of the nasal challenge test in the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis in subj...

INTRODUCTION The aim of this study is to identify the effects of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) on immunologic parameters and bronchial-hyper-responsiveness in children with allergic rhinitis to house-dust mite (HDM), through long-term follow-up cohort. METHODS Among the Allergic Rhinitis Cohort Study for Kids, pediatric patients who visited the hospital for rhinitis symptoms and proven alle...

Occupational asthma due to platinum salts is a frequent disease in platinum refineries. The diagnosis is based upon a history of work related symptoms and a positive skin prick test with platinum salts. Bronchial provocation tests have not been performed in epidemiological studies because the skin test is believed to be highly specific and sensitive. As no reliable data about this issue current...

OBJECTIVE Risk factors related to the outcome of childhood asthma are not yet well established. We aimed to investigate the long-term outcome for children with asthma to determine the risk factors in predicting persistence of disease. METHODS Sixty-two children with asthma were evaluated retrospectively at the end of a 10-year follow-up. Patients were asked to complete a questionnaire request...

Specific nasal provocation testing (NPT) consists of eliciting a response from the nasal mucosa by controlled exposure to allergens. It is indicated in the diagnostic confirmation of allergic rhinitis and when discrepancies arise or difficulties exist in the assessment of a patient's medical history and the results of skin and/or serological tests. The technique is also applied to evaluate sens...

The inhibition of immediate allergen or histamine induced airflow obstruction by inhaled ketotifen, clemastine, sodium cromoglycate, and placebo was studied in two groups of asthmatic subjects. Single doses of ketotifen (0.5 mg), clemastine (0.5 mg), sodium cromoglycate (20 mg), or placebo were administered by inhalation 45 minutes before bronchial provocation testing at weekly intervals, doubl...