On nasobronchial reflex in asthmatic patients.

In 27 asthmatic patients a single cold stimulus into the nose resulted in a sudden increase of airway resistance, measured continuously by a new forced-oscillations-technique. The effect could be blocked by previous intrabronchial application of an anti-cholinergic drug. In laryngectomised patients, who no longer have a connection between the upper and the lower airpathways, cold stimuli into the nose caused a bronchoconstriction just as it did in the asthmatics. So the cold effect must be based on a reflex mechanism.