Reactive Airways Dysfunction Syndrome (RADS) following accidental inhalation of irritants: physiopathology and functional respiratory impairment compared to occupational asthma with a latent period Abstract Accidental inhalation high concentrations of certain gases and acids may cause Reactive Airways Dysfunction Syndrome (RADS). In this study, the reversibility of bronchial obstruction was compared in 15 exposed subjects and 30 subjects with occupational asthma triggered by a variety of substances. RADS subjects exhibited markedly lower reversibility as well as a high lymphocyte count on broncho-alveolar lavage. Bronchial biopsies revealed extensive submucosal fibrosis and significant subepithelial fibrosis, but little inflammatory infiltration.These results demonstrate that RADS is an entity distinct from other forms of occupational asthma and is characterised by marked fibrosis which probably reflects acute inflammation of the bronchial mucosa following inhalation of toxins. Produced Under this Project Scientific Publications Morphologic evidence of modified contractile properties of airways in occupational asthma and reactive airway dysfunction syndromeBoutet M., Boulet L.-P., Malo J.-L., Cartier A., Leblanc C., Milot J., Laviolette M.Source : American Review of Respiratory Disease, vol. 147, no 4, suppl. A111, 1993Correlations between airway inflammation and responsiveness to methacholine in subjects with asthma, rhinitis, reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS), chronic cough and normalsBoulet L.-P., Turcotte H., Boutet M., Milot J., Côté J., Malo J.-L., Cartier A., Dugas M., Laviolette M.Source : European Respiratory Journal, vol. 6, suppl. 17, 1993, p. 265Is the reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS) a variant of occupational asthma?Gautrin D., Boulet L.-P., Boutet M., Bhérer L., L'Archevêque J., Dugas M., Malo J.-L.Source : Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, vol. 91, no 1, partie 2, 1993, p. 310Is reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS) a variant of occupational asthma?Gautrin D., Boulet L.-P., Dugas M., Bhérer L., L'Archevêque J., Laviolette M., Côté J., Malo J.-L.Source : Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, vol. 93, 1994, p. 12-22Bronchial hyperresponsiveness can improve while spirometry plateaus two to three years after repeated exposure to chlorine causing respiratory symptomsMalo J.-L., Cartier A., Boulet L.-P., L'Archevêque J., St-Denis F., Bhérer L., Courteau J.-P.Source : American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, vol. 150, 1994, p. 1142-1145Prevalence and determinants of tachyphylaxis to methacholine in normal and asthmatic subjectsSimard S., Laprise C., Boulet L.-P.Source : American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, vol. 149, 1994, p. A1051 Additional Information Type: Project Number: 0092-0410 Status: Completed Research Field: Chemical and Biological Hazard Prevention Team: Louis-Philippe Boulet (Centre de recherche de l'IUCPQ)Jean-Luc Malo (Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur)Malek Bouteldja (Université McGill)André Cartier (Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur)Johanne Côté (Centre de recherche de l'IUCPQ)Mario Dugas (Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur)Denyse Gautrin (Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur)Michel Laviolette (Centre de recherche de l'IUCPQ)