[Importance of acetylcholine-test for workers under medical supervision by industrial physicians and the prophylactic examination of patients with obstructive lung-diseases (author's transl)].

2316 persons, predominantly underground miners, aged up to 64 years were investigated with the acetylcholine-test (ultrasonic aerosol device for individual inhalation "TuR", USI3, 0,2% solution, 3 min duration of inhalation) to detect bronchial hyperreactivity (decrease in the first-second-flow-test about 30% compared with the initial value 5 min. after finishing inhalation). This method permits an early diagnosis of bronchial obstruction and helps to distinguish between a stable and unstable reaction of the bronchial system. In 75 (4,4% from 1714) patients without and 57 (14% from 434) patients with manifest ventilation disorders a bronchial hyperreactivity was found. Restrictive disorders did not influence bronchial hyperreactivity. With increasing degrees of manifest bronchial obstruction a highly significant prevalence of bronchial hyperreactivity was demonstrable. Patients with a slight manifest bronchial obstruction tended significantly more frequent to intensified bronchospastic reactions. Periodical health examinations for early detection and dispensary care for persons with bronchial obstruction and obstructive respiratory diseases should be attained. The standardization of this examination is discussed, because in 60,2% there was a positive cough reaction and in 2% the inhalation had to be stopped prematurely. The one-step-method of inhalation with a acetylcholine-solution (0,1%) is proposed.