Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., Vol 154, No. 3, 09 1996, 661-664.
Lower airway responses to influenza A virus in healthy allergic and nonallergic subjects
DP Skoner, WJ Doyle, J Seroky and P Fireman
Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania, USA.
Acute asthma is considered a complication of respiratory viral infections.
This investigation assessed the effects of influenza A virus infection on
both the patency and responsiveness of the lower airways. Subjects with
allergic rhinitis (AR; n = 21) and without AR (non-AR; n = 25) were
intranasally inoculated with influenza A virus and monitored for 8 d in a
cloistered environment for changes in symptoms, signs, and airway
physiology (pulmonary function, bronchial methacholine provocation). All
subjects were infected after inoculation. Significant increases in nasal
symptoms and secretion weights were observed, with peak effects on Days 3
and 4. Cough was a relatively minor symptom, and none of the subjects
developed wheezing. Likewise, there were no significant changes in the
measured functions of the lower airways. No effects on allergy status were
observed. Under these experimental conditions, influenza A virus infection
did not produce detectable alterations in lower airway function in health
AR and non-AR subjects.
