Increased airways reactivity after smoke inhalation

• Published in: The Lancet (British edition) Vol. 337; no. 8741; pp. 595 - 597
• Main Authors: Kinsella, J, Campbell, D, Carter, R, Clark, C.J, Reid, W.H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier Ltd 09.03.1991; Lancet; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Airway Obstruction - blood; Airway Obstruction - etiology; Airway Obstruction - physiopathology; Anti-inflammatory agents; Biological and medical sciences; Carboxyhemoglobin - analysis; Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Female; Fires; Forced Expiratory Volume; Gas, fumes; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Inhalation; Lungs; Male; Medical research; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Respiratory function; Respiratory system; Smoke; Smoke Inhalation Injury - blood; Smoke Inhalation Injury - complications; Smoke Inhalation Injury - physiopathology; Toxicology; Human; Respiratory tract; Manure; Reactivity; Respiratory disease; Toxicity; Fire; Inhalation
• ISSN: 0140-6736; 1474-547X
• DOI: 10.1016/0140-6736(91)91650-J

13 fire victims who required treatment after smoke inhalation underwent lung function assessment within 3 days of injury and 3 months later. Initial airways hyperreactivity improved over this period, but FEV 1 and airways specific conductance did not change significantly. There was a strong correlation between exposure carboxyhaemoglobin concentration (an indicator of smoke exposure) and initial airways specific conductance (r+0·79; p=0·006). Airways obstruction after smoke inhalation in house fires may be more common and more persistent than is generally recognised. Early lung function tests would allow the incidence of pulmonary complications after smoke inhalation and the potential benefits of early use of inhaled antiinflammatory drugs to be assessed.