engleski

Non-specific nasal and bronchial reactivity are not correlated in non-asthmatic subjects occupationally exposed to irritants and in healthy subjects

Background Non-specific nasal and bronchial reactivity are frequently correlated in disease (rhinitis and asthma). It is not known whether such a correlation exists in subjects exposed to irritants and in healthy subjects In order to test the hypothesis that a correlation between non-specific nasal and bronchial reactivity exists in non-asthmatic subjects, two groups of subjects were studied 110 workers occupationally exposed to respiratory irritants, and 86 non-exposed healthy controls. Methods Allergy, non-specific nasal, and non-specific branchial reactivity were tested, and smoking habits were categorized in each subject. Results Respiratory irritants cause a substantial increase in nasal and bronchial reactivity when compared with the group of healthy, non-exposed subjects (33.6% nasal hyperreactors and 20.0% bronchial hyperreactors vs. 4.7% nasal hyperreactors and 2.3% bronchial hyperreactors, respec tively). But occupational exposure to respiratory irritants does not induce a correlation between non-specific nasal and branchial reactivity frequently found in asthmatic and rhinitic subjects. Conclusions We found no correlation between non-specific nasal and bronchial reactivity either in subjects occupationally exposed to respiratory irritants or in the group of healthy subjects. This lack of correlation in both studied groups seems to be a feature of non-diseased airways Smoking as an additional factor does not increase nasal and bronchial reactivity either in workers exposed to irritants Or in healthy subjects. Smoking also does not strengthen the correlation between upper and lower airways' reactivity in both groups.

non-specific nasal reactivity; non-specific bronchial reactivity; occupation; irritants; airway reactivity; healthy subjects

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