In 30 unselected male patients, bronchoscopic aspect and lung function parameters (notch in FEV₁, FEV₁/FIV₁%, discrepancy between airways resistance and FEV₁; club-shaped resistance curves) were correlated to determine the validity of lung function in the diagnosis of a central bronchial collapse. There were no strong correlations; only the club-shaped resistance curve and FEV₁/FIV₁% < 60 were a little more often seen in the presence of central bronchial collapse. It is concluded from these results, and with regard to the known results from bronchial pressure measurements, that the functional parameters mentioned above are good indicators of a flaccid tracheobronchial system but not typical for a central bronchial collapse alone. Additional methods (bronchoscopy, bronchial pressure measurements) are needed to locate the major pressure drop and to select the adequate therapy (conservative in the case of pure peripheral or most mixed situations, chirurgical in special cases with pure central bronchial collapse). The reactions of a collapsible tracheobronchial system to bronchodilating drugs are described and their help in location of the major pressure drop is discussed.

140 bakers with occupation-related asthma symptoms and/or rhinoconjunctivitis were tested for specific IgE antibodies against various enzyme-containing baking components. 5-24% of subjects were sensitive to several carbohydrate-splitting enzymes obtained from mould fungi (amyloglucosidase, hemicellulase and alpha-amylase), as well as/or against soya flour. But allergies against the proteolytic enzymes papain and B. subtilis protease were rare (about 1%). These results indicate that various baking components, especially mould enzymes, play a not insignificant role in the causation of baker's asthma.