Millqvist E, Bende M
Department of Allergy, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden.
Respir Med. 2001 Jan;95(1):19-21. doi: 10.1053/rmed.2000.0965.
Although capsaicin provocation has been used to evaluate treatment against cough, which is one of the most common respiratory symptoms, there are still methodological considerations that are not fully known. Capsaicin stimulates the unmyelinated slow C-fibres of the sensory nervous system, which leads to coughing. Smoking often leads to respiratory symptoms with cough and phlegm. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of smoking on capsaicin provocation. Subjectively healthy smokers and non-smokers were challenged with capsaicin in increasing doses. The coughs were counted and irritation of the lower airways was graded on a symptom score. Smokers reacted to provocation with significantly fewer coughs, but there was no difference regarding other symptoms. These results are in agreement with the hypothesis that nicotine inhibits or blocks C-fibres of the sensory nervous system of the lower respiratory tract. Clinically, this may serve to explain increasing airway symptoms that are often seen after cessation of smoking.
尽管辣椒素激发试验已被用于评估针对咳嗽（最常见的呼吸道症状之一）的治疗效果，但仍存在一些尚未完全明确的方法学考量。辣椒素刺激感觉神经系统的无髓鞘慢C纤维，从而引发咳嗽。吸烟常导致伴有咳嗽和咳痰的呼吸道症状。本研究的目的是考察吸烟对辣椒素激发试验的影响。主观健康的吸烟者和非吸烟者接受递增剂量的辣椒素激发。记录咳嗽次数，并根据症状评分对下呼吸道刺激进行分级。吸烟者对激发试验的反应是咳嗽次数明显减少，但在其他症状方面没有差异。这些结果与尼古丁抑制或阻断下呼吸道感觉神经系统C纤维的假说相符。在临床上，这或许可以解释为何戒烟后常出现气道症状加重的情况。
