Abstract
Twenty severe asthmatic children during institutional treatment and rehabilitation at Pediatric Department of Kawatana-Byoin National Sanatorium were tested for their exercise-induced bronchospasms (EIB) in four seasons over one year period, and the following results were obtained.
(1) In exercise tests using Master's two-step method, the maximum percentage fall after the exercise tests was most marked in PFR, followed by FEV1.0 and FVC. As the children were repeatedly trained in spring, summer, autumn and winter, their EIB became weaker, which was assumably attributed to the effect of the training.
(2) Similarly in free-running exercise tests, the maximum percentage fall after the exercise was largest in PFR, followed by FEV1.0 and FVC, while their EIB became weaker from spring to summer and autumn. In winter, however, the maximum per-centage fall was most marked in FEV1.0, followed by PFR and FVC, and their EIB occur-red most frequently in spring, and then in winter. This frequency of EIB in winter was assumed to be attributed to the effect of temperature since free-running was conducted outdoors.
(3) The %FEV1.0 demonstrated similar changes, indicating that their EIB evidently decreased as training was repeated.
(4) The peripheral blood pictures (RBC, Hb, Ht) did not show any significant change and remained free from the training effect.
(5) As the training was repeated, the level of serum vitamin E increased and a pos-sibility of affecting the EIB by this rise could be considered. However, serum vitamin E, in winter was lower than in autum, which may suggest that the demand for vitamin E increased in a cold environment.
