Standardized challenge testing with pharmacological, physical and sensitizing stimuli in adults

Abstract

Variable airways obstruction can be mimicked in the laboratory by challenge tests with bronchoconstrictive stimuli (fig. 1) [2]. This enables one to measure the degree of the so-called «airway responsiveness» of the subject to a particular agent. Since the bronchoconstrictive response varies from one stimulus to another, one needs to specify the challenging agent. Therefore, the term «nonspecific» airway responsiveness should be abandoned.