Allergologia et immunopathologia
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Bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR) is a characteristic of bronchial asthma. Patients with allergic rhinitis who do not report symptoms of bronchial asthma on spirometry show BHR, which could indicate the presence of subclinical inflammation of the lower respiratory airway. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the patients diagnosed with allergic rhinitis in our unit without symptoms of bronchial asthma had bronchial hyperreactivity and to determine which allergens caused these symptoms in our patients. ⋯ According to the latest guidelines on the treatment and control of allergic rhinitis --The Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma Workshop Report-- bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis are distinct manifestations of a single airway and of the same disease. In view of our results, we recommend systematic evaluation of bronchial hyperreactivity in the study protocol of allergic rhinitis in patients who do not report symptoms of bronchial asthma.