TY - JOUR T1 - Repetitive, intense hyperpnea to reduce bronchial reactivity in asthmatics – A pilot study JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J DO - 10.1183/13993003.congress-2016.PA2273 VL - 48 IS - suppl 60 SP - PA2273 AU - Philipp A. Eichenberger AU - Andrea Kurzen AU - Stephanie N. Diener AU - Thomas A. Scherer AU - Christina M. Spengler Y1 - 2016/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/48/suppl_60/PA2273.abstract N2 - Exercise training was shown to have positive effects on asthma characteristics and symptoms (Eichenberger et al., Sports Med, 2013). The underlying mechanisms are not yet fully elucidated. One aspect may be repetitive airway stretching with increased ventilation during exercise. The aim of the present pilot was to test whether repetitive, intense deep breathing would positively affect bronchial hyperreactivity and airway inflammation.Seven subjects(age: 24±4 years; FEV1: 91±12% pred.) with mild-moderate (but no seasonal or uncontrolled) asthma participated in this study. Prior to and after a 11-week intervention, lung function, bronchial response to a Mannitol challenge (PD15 and RDR FEV1) and exhaled NO (eNO) were assessed. All tests were performed after withdrawal of medication. The intervention included fourty 30-min sessions of normocapnic hyperpnea with warm and humid air (4-5x/wk) at 60-81% of maximal voluntary ventilation.After the intervention, bronchial hyperresponsiveness (PD15, p=0.063; reduction in all subjects; FEV1-decrease at isodose, p=0.021, reduction in all subjects; RDR FEV1, p=0.016; reduction in all subjects), and airway inflammation (eNO, p=0.011; reduction in 6/7 subjects) were reduced.This data indicates that repetitive airway stretching and respiratory muscle work present during exercise may partially contribute to the positive effects of exercise on characteristics of asthma. Also, the data shows the potential of repetitive hyperpnea as a non-pharmacological tool to improve bronchial sensitivity, reactivity and airway inflammation. ER -