Airway Responses to Eucapnic Hyperpnea, Exercise, and Methacholine in Elite Swimmers.

The article evaluates the airway response to a methacholine challenge and to eucapnic hyperpnea in a group of female elite swimmers. Eucapnic voluntary hyperpnea (EVH) test, a field-based exercise test (FBT), a laboratory-based exercise test (LBT), and a methacholine challenge were performed by 16 female nonasthmatic elite swimmers. The criteria suggested by the International Olympic Committee Medial Commission (IOC-MC) were used to define a positive response to the challenges. The results of the study suggest the use of EVH test when diagnosing and evaluating elite swimmers' EIB, and if EVH test negative then proceeding to LBT.