IRRITANT-ASSOCIATED VOCAL CORD DYSFUNCTION

Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) is a poorly understood entity that is oft en misdiagnosed as asthma, The report eleven cases of VCD in which the re was a temporal association between VCD onset and occupational or en vironmental exposure. We conducted a case-control study to determine i f the characteristics of irritant-exposed VCD (IVCD) cases differed fr om non-exposed VCD controls, Chart review of VCD patients at the autho rs' institution produced II cases that met IVCD case criteria. Thirty- three control VCD subjects were selected by age matching, There were s tatistical differences between the groups in ethnicity and chest disco mfort, There were no statistical differences between the groups for ge nder, tobacco, smoking habits, symptoms, or pulmonary function paramet ers, Varied irritant exposures were associated with IVCD. IVCD should be considered in patients presenting with respiratory symptoms occurri ng after irritant exposures.