ISSN:
1398-9995
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
To examine the influence of the histamine chloride challenge test on the bronchoalveolar lavage cell population, lavage fluid from 15 subjects was collected 24 h after the histamine test, and was compared with the lavage fluid from a reference group of 25 subjects. Inhaled histamine is commonly used to quantitate non-specific bronchial responsiveness. Increase in airway responsiveness after exposure to ozone or allergen is associated with airway inflammation. Bronchoalveolar lavage, has therefore become a valuable tool in the study of bronchoalveolar cells and mediators in subjects with asthma and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. The total cell number and differential cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid 24 h after inhalation challenge test with histamine-chloride were studied. There was a significant increase in lymphocytes, mast cells and neutrophils after histamine test. The conclusion was that inhaled histamine-chloride can induce an inflammatory cell response in the lung. Thus the histamine-chloride test should not be performed before bronchoalveolar lavage.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1398-9995.1989.tb02231.x