We are interested in the factors responsible for the exquisite bronchial sensitivity found in patients with bronchial asthma. This is a continuation of a genetic family study of host factors in bronchial asthma. This study deals with factors that may be involved in determining the natural history of bronchial asthma in the general population. One of the questions in this study is whether the bronchial sensitivity of asthmatic individuals to methacholine occurs at an early age even before clinical manifestation of the disease occurs. We intend to use the methacholine inhalation challenge test as the method of defining bronchial reactivity and possibly using this as a marker for eluicidation of its genetic characteristics. Another major part of this study is to determine whether asthma is acquired, genetically transmitted, and/or the result of interaction of environmental and host factors. We intend to study the natural history of asthma and methacholine sensitivity in patients who currently have asthma, former asthmatics, their atopic and non-atopic siblings, and concordant and discordant twin pairs. We will study the genetic characteristics of predisposition of asthma, in the above high risk groups as well as low risk groups such as non-atopic families. Parameters to be assessed include methacholine tolerance, allergy history and skin tests, serum IgE, protease inhibitor (Pi) types, and histocompatibility antigens. We will determine the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonically nebulized distilled water (UNDW) as a test for bronchial asthma. We will compare the response of UNDW and cold air hyperventilation (CAHC) in subjects with asthma and to utilize these challenges to study the pathophysiology of asthma.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Clinical Investigator Award (CIA) (K08)
Project #
5K08HL001508-02
Application #
3081878
Study Section
Research Manpower Review Committee (MR)
Project Start
1985-08-01
Project End
1990-07-31
Budget Start
1986-08-01
Budget End
1987-07-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1986
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Creighton University
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
City
Omaha
State
NE
Country
United States
Zip Code
68178
Hopp, R J; Townley, R G; Biven, R E et al. (1990) The presence of airway reactivity before the development of asthma. Am Rev Respir Dis 141:2-8
Lemire, T S; Hopp, R J; Bewtra, A K et al. (1989) Comparison of ultrasonically nebulized distilled water and cold-air hyperventilation challenges in asthmatic patients. Chest 95:958-61
Hopp, R J; Christy, J; Bewtra, A K et al. (1988) Incorporation and analysis of ultrasonically nebulized distilled water challenges in an epidemiologic study of asthma and bronchial reactivity. Ann Allergy 60:129-33
Hopp, R J; Bewtra, A K; Biven, R et al. (1988) Bronchial reactivity pattern in nonasthmatic parents of asthmatics. Ann Allergy 61:184-6
Lang, D M; Hopp, R J; Bewtra, A K et al. (1987) Distribution of methacholine inhalation challenge responses in a selected adult population. J Allergy Clin Immunol 79:533-40
Hopp, R J; Bewtra, A K; Nair, N M et al. (1986) Methacholine inhalation challenge studies in a selected pediatric population. Am Rev Respir Dis 134:994-8