Bronchial hyperresponsiveness in patients with sarcoidosis.

OBJECTIVE

To study bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) in patients with sarcoidosis.

METHODS

Twenty freshly diagnosed patients with sarcoidosis were evaluated. Progressively increasing concentrations of methacholine were administered using a standard five-breath dosimeter protocol, and spirometry performed after each challenge. BHR was expressed as PC20 (provocating concentration of methacholine resulting in 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in first second). All patients were nonsmokers, had no other concurrent cardiopulmonary disease, and were not on any specific treatment for sarcoidosis.

RESULTS

Borderline (PC20 4.0-16.0 mg/mL), mild (PC20 1.0-4.0 mg/mL) and moderate to severe (PC20 <1.0 mg/mL) BHR was documented in three (15%), one (5%) and five (25%) patients respectively. Patients with BHR were similar to those having normal reactivity in terms of age, gender, disease duration and results of pulmonary function testing. All patients with endobronchial disease had BHR.

CONCLUSION

BHR may be seen in several patients of sarcoidosis and could possibly contribute to decline in lung function.