[Bronchial provocation tests. Comparison of 2 inhalation methods].

This study was performed to compare two methods of aerosols delivery and inhalation in a bronchial provocation test with carbachol : the stocked method (S) where the aerosol is previously stocked in a spirometer bell before inhalation and the dosimeter method (D) where the aerosol is directly inhaled after nebulization. Fourteen subjects (seven normal and seven asthmatic) underwent bronchial challenges with the two techniques. Bronchial sensitivity was calculated on SRaw-dose response curves to carbachol. SGaw-dose response curves were also constructed and the slopes of these curves were used to measure bronchial reactivity. Within subjects sensitivity values were lower with the D method than with the S method (40 +/- 5 micrograms (S E) versus 450 +/- 50 micrograms respectively in asthmatics, 340 +/- 30 micrograms versus 2350 +/- 130 micrograms respectively in healthy subjects). Reactivity values were higher with the dosimeter method (2,7 +/- 0,7 x 10(-5) versus 27 +/- 4 x 10(-5) in healthy and 10 +/- 1 x 10(-5) versus 106 +/- 16 x 10(-5) in asthmatics). The dosimeter method had greater efficacy, was less time consuming and appeared to be a useful method for carrying out standardised non-specific bronchoprovocation test.