[Methacholine test in the study of non-specific bronchial reactivity in a group of patients allergic to pollen]. / Il test alla metacolina nello studio della reattività bronchiale aspecifica in un gruppo di pollinosici.

We have studied thirty subjects sensitive to pollens suffering from seasonal rhinitis and/or mild seasonal asthma. The patients were submitted to a preseasonal and to a seasonal evaluation of their bronchial reactivity by means of a metacholine provocation test in order to measure possible variations of their responsiveness. Our data shown that the metacholine provocation test is not substantially influenced by seasonal pollen stimulation; it is likely that in patients sensitive to pollens, aspecific bronchial reactivity is intermittent, so explaining the inconstant behaviour of responsiveness observed in our allergic patients.