EFFECTS OF RHINOVIRUS INFECTION ON PULMONARY-FUNCTION OF HEALTHY HUMAN VOLUNTEERS

Abstract

The effects of experimentally induced rhinovirus and mycoplasmal respiratory tract infections on the pulmonary function of healthy, young adult volunteers were investigated prospectively. Before inoculation, 12 volunteers were completely normal; 9 had increased frequency dependence of compliance as their only abnormality of pulmonary function. Rhinovirus infection was induced in 8 completely normal volunteers, and 5 developed increased frequency dependence of compliance at the time of illness. These changes returned toward normal during the following 2 wk and were not associated with concomitant changes in any other parameter of pulmonary function, including closing volume. Three subjects with increased frequency dependence of compliance as their only abnormality before rhinovirus infection developed no significant change in dynamic compliance or any other abnormality in pulmonary function after infection. No changes in pulmonary function were detected in 3 volunteers with experimentally induced mycoplasmal infection. Although rhinovirus infections are associated primarily with upper respiratory illness, they can produce transient peripheral airway abnormalities in previously normal young adults; closing volumes and routine pulmonary function studies may not detect these changes.