INVESTIGATION OF BRONCHIAL HYPER-REACTIVITY. ECRHS II TEST QUESTIONNAIRE VERSUS HISTAMINE PD20 FEV1

Bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR), common in asthma occurs in other diseases such as chronic airway obstruction. Our aim is the validation of the ECRHS II questionnaire (The European Community Respiratory Survey II) in detecting BHR. Methodology: ECRHS II questionnaire was applied on a group of 278 patients with respiratory symptoms, without asthma and was correlated with: smoking index, allergy tests and nonspecific bronchial challenge test with histamine (PD20 FEV1). Results: The PD20 FEV1 test was positive in 85.2% of subjects, the most common symptoms were: wheezing (48% in positive and 15% in negative subjects, with a statistically significant difference), morning chest tightness and sudden shortness of breath. There was no relation between PD20 FEV1 test and atopic status or smoking index. Conclusions: Subjects with wheezing, chest tightness or attacks of shortness of breath after a strenuous effort have BHR with high probability. The combination of the three symptoms certifies BHR's presence. Cuvinte cheie: hiperreactivitate bronsică, test PD20 VEMS, chestionar ECRHS II Rezumat: Hiperreactivitatea bron sică (HRB), comună astmului bronsic, apare si in alte patologii precum obstrucţia cronic ă a c ăilor aeriene. Scopul studiului este validarea chestionarului ECRHS II (The European Community Respiratory Survey II) in depistarea HRB. Metodologie: Pe un lot de 278 pacienţi cu simptome respiratorii, f ă r ă astm bronsic, s-a aplicat chestionarul ECRHS II corelându-se cu: indicele de fumat, teste alergologice si testul de provocare bronsică nespecifică cu histamină (PD20 VEMS). Rezultate: Testul PD20 VEMS a fost pozitiv la 85,2% dintre subiecţi, cele mai frecvente simptome fiind: wheezing (48% intre subiecţii pozitivi si 15% intre cei negativi, diferenţă statistic semnificativă), senzaţia de constricţie toracică matinală si dispneea instalată brusc. Nu s-a constatat o relaţie intre testul PD20 VEMS si starea atopică sau indicele de fumat. Concluzii: Subiecţii cu wheezing, senzaţie de constricţie toracic ă sau atac de dispnee după un efort epuizant prezintă cu probabilitate crescută HRB. Asocierea celor trei simptome certifică prezenţa HRB.