Influence of natural exposure to pollens and domestic animals on airway responsiveness and XXXX in sensitized non-asthmatic subjects.

@entity1712 @entity32 @entity565 @entity566 @entity2710
BACKGROUND: Atopy may be a risk factor in the development of @entity565 . Indoor allergens are considered to be more potent @entity565 inducers than outdoor ones such as pollens. Lower @entity32 may be present in non-asthmatic subjects during natural exposure to relevant allergens and may eventually lead to the development of @entity565 . AIMS: To document seasonal variation in lower airway responsiveness and @entity32 in sensitized non-asthmatic subjects, during natural exposure to allergens, and to determine whether it is more marked in those exposed to animals to which they are sensitized. METHODS: Twenty-two atopic subjects were seen during and out of the pollen season. All (but the controls) were sensitized to domestic animals, and to trees, grasses or ragweed. Eleven were not exposed to animals at home and 8 were exposed. They were compared with 3 normal controls. A respiratory questionnaire was administered, @entity566 skin prick tests, spirometry, @entity2710 challenge, blood and induced sputum with differential cell counts were obtained during the pollen season for all subjects. These tests were repeated out of the pollen season. RESULTS: Throughout the study, none of the subjects had @entity565 symptoms. Mean PC(20) was significantly lower in subjects exposed to animals compared with unexposed subjects or controls, both during and out of the pollen season. In season, subjects exposed to animals had significantly higher sputum eosinophil numbers than unexposed or normal control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Non-asthmatic atopic subjects show variable degrees of airway responsiveness and @entity32 . However, subjects exposed to animals show higher airway @entity1712 , which may suggest they are at increased risk of developing airway hyperresponsiveness and @entity565 .
