Atopic Disposition and Bronchial Reactivity to Inhaled Acetylcholine in Young Adults with a History of Asthma in Childhood

Abstract

The atopic disposition, indicated by positive skin reactions and IgE antibody titers etc., and the bronchial reactivity to inhaled acetylcholine were examined on the following three groups: (1) 20 young adults with a history of childhood asthma who have been symptom-free for more than 4 yr; (2) 20 current asthmatics, and (3) 20 healthy young adults. Young adults with a history of childhood asthma remained atopic in their disposition even after complete clinical remissions of their childhood asthma. However, they had a lower bronchial reactivity as compared with current asthmatics, although the bronchial reactivities of both groups were apparently higher than the control group.