The Influence of a Family History of Asthma and Parental Smoking on Airway Responsiveness in Early Infancy

• Published in: The New England journal of medicine Vol. 324; no. 17; pp. 1168 - 1173
• Main Authors: Young, Sally, Le Souëf, Peter N, Geelhoed, Gary C, Stick, Stephen M, Turner, Keven J, Landau, Louis I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston, MA Massachusetts Medical Society 25.04.1991
• Subjects: Allergens; Asthma; Asthma - genetics; Babies; Biological and medical sciences; Bronchial Provocation Tests; Bronchoconstriction - drug effects; Bronchoconstriction - physiology; Families & family life; Family medical history; Female; Fetus - drug effects; Forced Expiratory Flow Rates; Forced Expiratory Volume; Histamine; Hospitals; Humans; Immunoglobulin E; Immunoglobulin E - analysis; Immunology; Infant; Infants; Investigative techniques of respiratory function; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Medical research; Medical sciences; Parents; Parents & parenting; Pregnancy; Respiratory function; Respiratory tract; Serum levels; Skin Tests; Smoking; Values; Human; Measurement; Induced bronchoconstriction; Lung function; Parent; Risk factor; Tobacco smoking; Child; Asthma
• ISSN: 0028-4793; 1533-4406
• DOI: 10.1056/NEJM199104253241704

ALTHOUGH asthma is considered to result from a complex interaction of genetic and environmental influences, there has been little recent progress in determining their relative contributions. 1 Recent developments in the measurement of respiratory function in infants 2 have allowed inhalation challenges to be used in this age group in order to obtain objective measurements of airway responsiveness (the ability of the airways to constrict in response to certain stimuli). 3 This technique is of particular interest, since airway responsiveness is the most useful objective physiologic measurement associated with the presence of asthma. 1 The first inhalation-challenge studies in older normal infants, in which . . .