Unspezifische bronchiale Hyperreagibilitat bei Kindern und Jugendlichen mit allergiebedingtem Asthma bronchiale

Patient population: children with asthma 5 - 16 years old (mean 11 years) seen at the Kinderfachklinik Gaissach in the years 1985 through 1995 who underwent both allergen provocation testing (ATP) and tests for unspecific bronchial hyperresponsiveness (UHBR). Methods: retrospective analysis of anonymously stored data. UBHR was defined by either a positive exercise challenge testing (and minute free run) or histamine provocation testing (PD20 ≤ 8 mg/ml). Results: we measured positive APT to dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (D.p.) in 689 out of 1,203 (75%) and to grass-pollen (GP) in 427 out of 757 (56%) patients. Tests indicated UBHR in 48% of the patients with positive D.p.-APT was significantly more frequent from October to February than in the remaining months. In contrast no seasonal variation of UBHR was found for GP-APT positive patients. The relative frequencies of early, late and dual response to APT depend on the allergen used. Late reactions are significantly more frequent to D.p. (59,5%) than to GP (24%). Our results demonstrate that the absence of UBHR may not be used to exclude allergic asthma as defined by positive APT.