Effect of 3 hours of passive smoke exposure in the evening on inflammatory markers in bronchoalveolar and nasal lavage fluid in subjects with mild asthma.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure in the evening on inflammatory changes in bronchoalveolar (BAL) and nasal lavage (NAL) fluid.

METHODS

Ten subjects with mild asthma [mean (+/- SD) age, 25 +/- 2 years, FEV1% pred., 93 +/- 6%, PC20FEV1 0.44 x 5.11 mg/ml methacholine] were exposed to ETS (22.4 +/- 1.2 ppm CO) or ambient air (sham) for 3 h (7.00 to 10.00 p.m). Bronchoscopy was performed the following morning at 7.00 a.m. A visual endoscopic score was assessed, and BAL fluids were analyzed for cellular composition and concentrations of histamine, albumin, eosinophilic cationic protein, myeloperoxidase, hyaluronic acid, tryptase, prostanoids and leukotrienes. Nasal lavages were performed 30 min prior to and 30 min after exposures, and NAL fluids were analyzed for histamine, albumin, eosinophilic cationic protein, myeloperoxidase, hyaluronic acid, and tryptase.

RESULTS

There was a significant rise in symptoms after ETS exposure compared with sham (P < 0.05). Spirometric lung function did not change during or after exposure compared with pre-session values. Visual bronchoscopic scoring revealed no significant effect of ETS exposure, nor did BAL cells and mediators or NAL mediators as compared with pre-challenge or post-sham values.

CONCLUSION

In the subjects tested, a 3-h ETS exposure in the evening appeared not to have an inflammatory effect detectable in BAL or NAL fluid.