Bronchial reactivity in hyperresponsive patients and healthy individuals: demonstration with high resolution computed tomography

Objective: High resolution computed tomography (HRCT) was used to assess the extent of bronchial reactivity after inhalative bronchoprovocation and dilation in hyperresponsive patients and healthy subjects. Patients and methods: Patients with mild intermittent asthma, 15 with a >20% decrease in FEV 1 and a >10 mmHg (PC 20+) in PaO 2, 12 with a 10 mmHg (PC 20−) in PaO 2 after provocation, and eight healthy humans were included in the study. Changes in cross-sectional area in a total of 1256 bronchi and in bronchial wall area (792 bronchi) were evaluated after histamine-triggered bronchoprovocation and salbutamol-induced bronchodilation at high lung volumes (FVC 80%). Data were compared with the results of pulmonary function tests (FEV 1, PaO 2, PaCO 2). Results: In all groups, a significant decrease in bronchial cross-sectional area ( P