[Comparing investigations of the valence of acetylcholine test and the closing volume for the early detection of non-specific lung diseases (author's transl)].

Investigations in 77 healthy persons and 94 patients with a manifest obstructive lung disease have led to the result that not only the central but also the peripheral part of the bronchial system are influenced by the bronchial reactivity. Accordingly the examination of the bronchial reactivity (0.01% acetylcholine solution as ultrasonic aerosol) enable in healthy persons a certain differentiation between smokers and non-smokers if the single breath test by means of the slope index are used. Therefore the method of investigation may be recommended for the early detection of functional disorders of persons with inhalatory exposure to noxious substances.