A study of the cough reflex in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Little is known about the pathogenesis of cough in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). We hypothesized that abnormalities of respiratory tract tachykinin-containing sensory nerves may be implicated. We studied cough response to capsaicin, substance P (SP), and bradykinin in 10 healthy control subjects and 10 patients with IPF.