Respiratory function in patients with perennial nasal allergy and pollinosis

Abstract

There are many patients with allergic rhinitis who have no lower airway symptoms. The question arises as to whether or not the lower airway is involved in such cases, but the results of investigations in this field remain controversial. To answer this question, I performed various respiratory function tests in patients with perennial nasal allergy or pollinosis with or without a history of bronchial asthma. In addition, physiological changes in lower airway lesions were evaluated after challenge with antigen and histamine in these patients. In the present study, respiratory function was examined by autospirometry and the following results were obtained. 1. The group with perennial nasal allergy and a history of bronchial asthma showed significantly lower FEV1.0%, PER, %VC, V75, V50, and V25 values than the group with perennial nasal allergy without history of bronchial asthma, indicating an obstructive lesion in the lower airway. The group with perennial nasal allergy alone showed lower V75, V50, and V25 values than the control group, suggesting small airway obstruction. 2. The group with perennial nasal allergy and a history of bronchial asthma showed marked hypersensitivity in the lower airway after histamine inhalation. The group with perennial nasal allergy alone showed marked changes in V75, V50, and V25: the degree was between that of the control group and that in the group with a history of asthma. 3. In patients with pollinosis, various respiratory function tests showed no abnormalities during the in-season of pollinosis and the out-seasons. However, inhalation of antigen or histamine decreased various parameters, significantly V50 and V25, during the symptomatic season.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)