320fae40-ee34-4cd1-868c-79a8fbf50268 eng Ev-K2-CNR +39 035 3230511 +39 035 3230551 Via San Bernardino 145 Bergamo BG 24126 Italy metadata@evk2cnr.org http://www.evk2cnr.org/ 2012-01-10T17:17:19 ISO 19115:2003/19139 1.0 Bronchial asthma and airway hyperresponsiveness at high altitude 1997-01-01T00:00:00 Respiration Respiration. 1997;64(6):444-9 The mountain climate can modify respiratory function and bronchial responsiveness of asthmatic subjects. Hypoxia, hyperventilation of cold and dry air and physical exertion may worsen asthma or enhance bronchial hyperresponsiveness while a reduction in pollen and pollution may play an important role in reducing bronchial inflammation. At moderate altitude (1,500-2,500 m), the main effect is the absence of allergen and pollutants. We studied bronchial hyperresponsiveness to both hyposmolar aerosol and methacholine at sea level (SL) and at high altitude (HA; 5,050 m) in 11 adult subjects (23-48 years old, 8 atopic, 3 nonatopic) affected by mild asthma. Basal FEV1 at SL and HA were not different (p = 0.09), whereas the decrease in FEV1 induced by the challenge was significantly higher at SL than at HA. (1) Hyposmolar aerosol: at SL the mean FEV1 decreased by 28% from 4.32 to 3.11 liters; at 5,050 m by 7.2% from 4.41 to 4.1 liters (p < 0.001). (2) Methacholine challenge: at SL PD20-FEV1 was 700 micrograms and at HA > 1,600 micrograms (p < 0.005). In 3 asthmatic and 5 nonasthmatic subjects plasma levels of cortisol were also measured. The mean value at SL was 265 nmol and 601 nmol at HA (p < 0.005). We suppose that the reduction in bronchial response might be mainly related to the protective role carried out by the higher levels of cortisol and, as already known, catecholamines. Annalisa Cogo Biomedical Research Centre applied to sport, University of Ferrara +39 0532210420 +39 0532455888 +39 0532210297 Via Gramicia, 35 Ferrara FE 44123 Italy annalisa.cogo@unife.it http://www.unife.it/centri/centro/studi-biomedici Basnyat Buddha Nepal International Clinic, Lal durbar, Kathmandu Kathmandu Nepal nic@naxal.wlink.com.np http://www.nepalinternationalclinic.com Delfino Legnani Department of Cardio Thoracic and Vascular Desease, University of Milan +39 0250319807 V. g.b. grassi, 74 Milano 20122 MI Italy delfino.legnani@unimi.it www.unimi.it Luigi Allegra Institute Phthisiology and diseases of the Respiratory System Via F.Sforza,35 Milano MI 20122 Italy luigi.allegra@unimi.it www.unimi.it https://geoportal.mountaingenius.org/geonetwork/srv/eng/resources.get?uuid=320fae40-ee34-4cd1-868c-79a8fbf50268&fname=mountain_witness__s.png thumbnail png SHARE altitude GEMET ashtma eng health -180 180 -90 90 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9383820 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Abstract:"Bronchial asthma and airway hyperresponsiveness at high altitude." Respiration. 1997;64(6):444-9. "Bronchial asthma and airway hyperresponsiveness at high altitude." Cogo A, Basnyat B, Legnani D, Allegra L. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Respiratory Diseases, University of Ferrara, Italy.