The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Jun 1988
Case ReportsBilateral abductor paresis masquerading as asthma.
Rare upper airway lesions may be mistaken for asthma. A 16-year-old Hispanic male athlete presented to our allergy clinic with a 4-month history of wheezing and snoring with hoarseness and progressive fatigue on exertion or during sleep. His mother taped periods of harsh stridor and sleep apnea. ⋯ His pulmonary function tests were significant for peak flow depressed out of proportion to FEV1 with reduced FVC, no response to bronchodilator, and flattened inspiratory loop unresponsive to cough or panting. Fluoroscopy and endoscopy of the upper airway was consistent with "marked bilateral limitation of vocal cord abduction." Sleep study demonstrated desaturation with CO2s in the 60s during sleep. He was started on continuous positive airway pressure, 10 cm at night, with no desaturation or sleep disturbance on follow-up.