A Case of Vocal Cord Dysfunction Masqueraded as Exercised-Induced Asthma.

Jo, Chang Lae; Sym, Sun Jin; Park, Sang Hyun; Nam, Soon Yuhl; Koh, Youn Suck

doi:2002.52.3.265

Tuberc Respir Dis > Volume 52(3); 2002 > Article

Case Report

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 2002;52(3):265-270.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2002.52.3.265 Published online March 1, 2002.

A Case of Vocal Cord Dysfunction Masqueraded as Exercised-Induced Asthma.

Chang Lae Jo, Sun Jin Sym, Sang Hyun Park, Soon Yuhl Nam, Youn Suck Koh

¹Department of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. yskoh@amc.seoul.kr
²Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) is respiratory disorder characterized by paradoxical closure of the vocal cord during the respiratory cycle leading to obstructive airway symptoms. The clinical presentation of VCD is often dr amatic and its misdiagnosis as asthma of exercise-induced brochospasm(EIB) has led to inappropriate treatment including high dose corticosteroids, intubation, and tracheostomy. Many VCD patients are asympromatic at rest and require exercise challenge to elicit symptoms and vocal cord abnormalities. The "gold standard" for the diagnosis of VCD remains laryngoscopy of bronchoscopy with direct visualization of paradoxical adduction of the vocal cords. We report a case of exercise-induced Vocal cord masqueraded as exercise-induced asthma unresponsive to corticosteroids. And bronchodilator confirmed by typical bronchoscopic findings with paradoxial adduction of the vocal cords.

Key Words: Vocal cord dysfunction, Exercise-induced asthma