Induction of eustachian tube dysfunction with histamine nasal provocation.

This study assessed changes in nasal airway resistance and nasal airway power as well as eustachian tube function after histamine nasal provocation in 12 atopic subjects and 10 nonatopic subjects. Results demonstrated that subjects could not be placed in the atopic or nonatopic group on the basis of prechallenge nasal resistance and power measurements. Atopic subjects demonstrated a statistically significant difference in nasal airway power after histamine provocation (p less than 0.05). Nine of 12 atopic subjects demonstrated tympanometric changes indicative of eustachian tube dysfunction, whereas none of 10 nonatopic subjects had these changes (p less than 0.001). These results suggest a differential sensitivity of nonatopic and atopic individuals to histamine, which may be an important pathogenetic mechanism leading to the development of eustachian tube dysfunction and possible subsequent development of otitis media with effusion in the atopic group.