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1: N Engl J Med. 1983 Jun 30;308(26):1566-70.
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Vocal-cord dysfunction presenting as asthma.

Christopher KL, Wood RP 2nd, Eckert RC, Blager FB, Raney RA, Souhrada JF.

We identified five patients with a functional disorder of the vocal cords that mimicked attacks of bronchial asthma. Paroxysms of wheezing and dyspnea were refractory to standard therapy for asthma. During episodes of wheezing, the maximal expiratory and inspiratory flow-volume relationship was consistent with a variable extrathoracic obstruction. Laryngoscopy confirmed that wheezing was due to adduction of the true and false vocal cords throughout the respiratory cycle. During asymptomatic periods the maximal flow-volume relationship and laryngoscopic examination were normal. Provocation tests for bronchial asthma were negative. A variety of personality styles and psychiatric diagnoses were represented; patients were not aware of the vocal-cord dysfunction, which uniformly and dramatically responded to speech therapy and psychotherapy. This syndrome may be a form of conversion reaction.

PMID: 6406891 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]