Airway Responsiveness to Inhaled Acetaldehyde in Subjects with Allergic Rhinitis: Relationship to Methacholine Responsiveness

<i>Background:</i> Asthmatic subjects have an exaggerated airway response to inhaled acetaldehyde, but no information is available on airway responsiveness to this bronchoconstrictor agent in subjects with allergic rhinitis. <i>Objective:</i> The aim of this study was to determine the effect of inhaled acetaldehyde on lung function in nonasthmatic subjects with allergic rhinitis. <i>Methods:</i> A total of 78 adults (43 subjects with allergic rhinitis, 16 asthmatics and 19 healthy subjects) were challenged with increased concentrations of acetaldehyde and methacholine. The response to each bronchoconstrictor agent was measured by the provocative concentra…