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Small airway involvement in the late allergic response in asthma

Stenberg, H. LU ; Diamant, Z. LU ; Ankerst, J. LU orcid ; Bjermer, L. LU and Tufvesson, E. LU (2017) In Clinical and Experimental Allergy 47(12). p.1555-1565
Abstract

Background: Allergy and asthma are closely linked. Inhalation of allergen induces an early allergic response (EAR) within the airways of allergic asthmatic subjects, which is followed by a late allergic response (LAR) in approximately 50% of the subjects. The LAR is defined as a drop in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) from baseline usually occurring 4-8 hours after exposure and is believed to affect small airways. However, FEV1 is insensitive to changes in small airway physiology. Objective: Our aim was to investigate and compare the pathophysiological processes in large and small airways during the EAR and the LAR and to characterize subjects with both an EAR and a LAR (dual responders) versus those... (More)

Background: Allergy and asthma are closely linked. Inhalation of allergen induces an early allergic response (EAR) within the airways of allergic asthmatic subjects, which is followed by a late allergic response (LAR) in approximately 50% of the subjects. The LAR is defined as a drop in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) from baseline usually occurring 4-8 hours after exposure and is believed to affect small airways. However, FEV1 is insensitive to changes in small airway physiology. Objective: Our aim was to investigate and compare the pathophysiological processes in large and small airways during the EAR and the LAR and to characterize subjects with both an EAR and a LAR (dual responders) versus those with an EAR only (single responders). Methods: Thirty-four subjects with allergic asthma underwent an inhaled allergen challenge. Lung physiology was assessed by spirometry, impulse oscillometry (IOS), body plethysmography, inert gas washout, single breath methane dilution carbon monoxide diffusion and exhaled breath temperature (EBT), at baseline and repeatedly for 23 hours post-allergen challenge. Results: Peripheral airway resistance, air trapping and ventilation heterogeneity were significantly increased in dual responders (n = 15) compared to single responders (n = 19) 6-8 hours post-challenge. Parameters of peripheral airway resistance and ventilation heterogeneity, measured with IOS and inert gas washout, respectively, correlated at baseline and during the allergic airway response in all subjects. Conclusion: The LAR involves increased resistance and ventilation defects within the peripheral airways. Alternative definitions of the LAR including small airways pathophysiology could be considered. Clinical relevance: Small airway dysfunction during the LAR suggests that dual responders may have more extensive airway pathology and underscores the relevance of small airways assessment in asthma.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Airway physiology, Allergen inhalation challenge, Asthma, Late allergic response, Small airways
in
Clinical and Experimental Allergy
volume
47
issue
12
pages
1555 - 1565
publisher
Wiley
external identifiers
  • scopus:85030655837
  • pmid:28940836
  • wos:000416430300006
ISSN
0954-7894
DOI
10.1111/cea.13036
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
05b4217b-5419-4eea-a858-bf504542ff2f
date added to LUP
2017-11-06 16:05:02
date last changed
2024-06-10 02:49:47
@article{05b4217b-5419-4eea-a858-bf504542ff2f,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Allergy and asthma are closely linked. Inhalation of allergen induces an early allergic response (EAR) within the airways of allergic asthmatic subjects, which is followed by a late allergic response (LAR) in approximately 50% of the subjects. The LAR is defined as a drop in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV<sub>1</sub>) from baseline usually occurring 4-8 hours after exposure and is believed to affect small airways. However, FEV<sub>1</sub> is insensitive to changes in small airway physiology. Objective: Our aim was to investigate and compare the pathophysiological processes in large and small airways during the EAR and the LAR and to characterize subjects with both an EAR and a LAR (dual responders) versus those with an EAR only (single responders). Methods: Thirty-four subjects with allergic asthma underwent an inhaled allergen challenge. Lung physiology was assessed by spirometry, impulse oscillometry (IOS), body plethysmography, inert gas washout, single breath methane dilution carbon monoxide diffusion and exhaled breath temperature (EBT), at baseline and repeatedly for 23 hours post-allergen challenge. Results: Peripheral airway resistance, air trapping and ventilation heterogeneity were significantly increased in dual responders (n = 15) compared to single responders (n = 19) 6-8 hours post-challenge. Parameters of peripheral airway resistance and ventilation heterogeneity, measured with IOS and inert gas washout, respectively, correlated at baseline and during the allergic airway response in all subjects. Conclusion: The LAR involves increased resistance and ventilation defects within the peripheral airways. Alternative definitions of the LAR including small airways pathophysiology could be considered. Clinical relevance: Small airway dysfunction during the LAR suggests that dual responders may have more extensive airway pathology and underscores the relevance of small airways assessment in asthma.</p>}},
  author       = {{Stenberg, H. and Diamant, Z. and Ankerst, J. and Bjermer, L. and Tufvesson, E.}},
  issn         = {{0954-7894}},
  keywords     = {{Airway physiology; Allergen inhalation challenge; Asthma; Late allergic response; Small airways}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{12}},
  pages        = {{1555--1565}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley}},
  series       = {{Clinical and Experimental Allergy}},
  title        = {{Small airway involvement in the late allergic response in asthma}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cea.13036}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/cea.13036}},
  volume       = {{47}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}