Repeated histamine inhalation tests in asthmatic patients

J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1981 Apr;67(4):285-9. doi: 10.1016/0091-6749(81)90023-3.

Abstract

Histamine inhalation tests were performed in 12 asthmatic patients using a 2-min tidal breathing inhalation technique. The tests were repeated on separate days with 30-, 60-, and 120-min intervals between inhalation tests. On another day the inhalation tests were repeated four times with 40-min intervals between tests. The geometric mean provocative concentrations of histamine needed to cause a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (PC20) for the group on the latter study day were 1.67, 1.57, and 1.55 mg/ml (p greater than 0.25) indicating no change in sensitivity to inhaled histamine with repeated testing. The results suggest that cumulative dose-response curves for drugs potentially affecting the airways or antagonizing histamine can be constructed within 1 day using histamine inhalation tests. The data also suggested that an individual PC20 result may be sensitively assessed by comparing it to a +/- 2 SD range from the mean of a series of control or placebo PC20 values.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Asthma / diagnosis*
  • Bronchial Provocation Tests
  • Female
  • Forced Expiratory Volume
  • Histamine / administration & dosage*
  • Humans
  • Immune Tolerance
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Histamine