Successful treatment of reactive airways dysfunction syndrome by high-dose vitamin D

Abstract

Reactive airways dysfunction syndrome is a controversial and poorly understood condition produced by inhalational injury from gas, vapors, or fumes. The symptoms mimic asthma, but appear unresponsive to asthma treatments. If symptoms persist for more than 6 months, there is a risk that they can become chronic. For these cases, effective treatments are lacking and quality of life is poor. We describe the first use of high-dose vitamin D in a patient with this condition, who fulfilled the 1995 American College of Chest Physicians criteria for this syndrome. The patient we describe presented an extremely difficult management problem and was refractory to conventional treatments, but responded to high-dose oral vitamin D supplements.

Keywords: asthma; cough; inhalational injury; reactive airways dysfunction syndrome; vitamin D.

Figure 1

Symptoms and serum vitamin D levels measured over the first 6 months of treatment. Abbreviations: PEFR, peak expiratory flow rate; FEV₁, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; FVC, forced vital capacity.