None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The hypothesis is that the airway narrowing of acute asthma is different depending on whether an individual is obese or non-obese. If this hypothesis is proven or refuted, it will help to aid doctors in acurately interpreting respiratory function tests.
Interventions
By testing individuals during broncho-constriction induced by airway challenge testing, we will measure lung function parameters to investigate whether obese asthmatics demonstrate the same spirometric picture compared to non-obese asthmatics. The measurements will be conducted at the begining of the challenge test, during and after bronchoconstriction has been achieved. The provocation test usually lasts half an hour and the lung function testing takes 15 mins at the beginning and end.
Sponsors
Professor Robin Taylor, principle investigator, Respiratory Research Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin New Zealand
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
A previous diagnosis of asthma (according to ATS criteria) and a positive methacholine challenge (PD20 <8 micromol if on not on corticosteroid inhalers and PD¬20 < 12 micromol if on corticosteroid inhalers).
Exclusion criteria
Pregnancy, males, smokers or ex-smokers (less than 10 pack year history and no cigarettes for in the last year), patients on oral corticosteroids, any patient with cardiac or neurological co-morbidity, any patient who has had a respiratory tract infection in the previous 6 weeks and for safety reasons, FEV1 less than 60% predicted or less than 1.5 litres at baseline, when stable.
Outcome results
None listed