Mannitol + Methacholine

Mannitol and Methacholine are two separate diagnostic agents used in bronchial challenge tests to diagnose asthma and assess bronchial hyperresponsiveness. They are not a single combination drug product. Mannitol inhalation (brand names Aridol, Bronchitol) is a sugar alcohol used to help diagnose asthma in patients 6 years and older by causing airways to narrow in people with asthma or bronchial hyperresponsiveness. It is also used as an add-on maintenance treatment to improve lung function in patients with cystic fibrosis. The mannitol bronchial challenge test is highly specific for asthma. Methacholine inhalation (brand name Provocholine) is used in the methacholine challenge test to diagnose bronchial airway hyperreactivity or asthma. It works by narrowing the bronchial airways. Both mannitol and methacholine are used for similar diagnostic purposes but work through different mechanisms. Clinical studies have shown that they have similar sensitivity and specificity in identifying exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) and asthma. While both tests are valuable tools in the diagnosis of asthma, they may identify different patient populations due to their different mechanisms of action.