Physiology of Cough in Asthma: Comparison of Sensory-Mechanical Responses to Mannitol and Methacholine Challenge Tests

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Subjects with asthma or suspected CVA who have previously participated in or who have expressed interest in participating in studies will be invited to participate in the study. Previous treatment with inhaled or systemic corticosteroids is not an exclusion criterion, but medication use will be recorded and examined in the analysis.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. An exacerbation necessitating any alteration in medication, emergency department visit or hospitalizations within the previous 4 weeks;
2. Inability to perform acceptable quality spirometry;

3. Medical contraindications to methacholine challenge testing 35, including:

   1. Severe airflow limitation (FEV1 <50% predicted or <1.0 L);
   2. Heart attack or stroke in last 3 months;
   3. Uncontrolled hypertension, systolic BP > 200 or diastolic BP > 100;
   4. Known aortic aneurysm;
   5. Moderate airflow limitation < 60% predicted or <1.5 L);
   6. Inability to perform acceptable quality spirometry;
   7. Current use of cholinesterase inhibitor medication (for myasthenia gravis); and
   8. Pregnant or nursing mothers.
4. Smoking history in excess of 10 pack years;

5. Medical contraindications to mannitol challenge testing, including:

   1. Aortic or cerebral aneurysm;
   2. Uncontrolled hypertension; and
   3. Myocardial infarction or a cerebral vascular accident in the previous six months).
6. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding because the effects of a possible hyperresponsiveness reaction to mannitol in mothers and/or fetuses are unknown and many compounds are excreted in human milk therefore caution should be taken.