VOICE REACTIONS TO HISTAMINE INHALATION IN ASTHMA

Susceptibility to voice reactions during a histamine provocation test was studied in 21 asthmatics and 21 healthy subjects. Speech samples w ere recorded before, and 5 and 15 min after histamine inhalation, and the samples were rated by six speech pathologists. Deterioration of vo ice quality occurred in 2/12 asthmatic men and in 3/9 asthmatic women within 5 min after histamine inhalation; no change was observed betwee n 5 and 15 min. Voice reactions were not related to the degree of bron chial obstruction: the subjects with the most pronounced decrease in p eak expiratory now (PEF) (60-61% in three subjects) did not develop vo ice reactions, and PEF did not decrease in one subject with voice reac tions. No voice reactions were observed in the healthy subjects.