Clinical Pharmacology Antiasthmatics and bronchial responsiveness Bronchial hyper-responsiveness is reduced by long term sodium cromoglycate ...

After treatment with inhaled sodium cromoglycate 20mg qid for 3 months, the nonspecific bronchial hyper-responsiveness to histamine challenge was reduced in 11 patients with perennial asthma. The concentration of histamine needed by inhalation challenge to reduce specific airway conductance by 35% decreased during the drug-free run-in period of 1 month, from 0.15 to 0.09 mg/ml. It then increased to 0.21 mg/ml after 3 months' sodium cromoglycate. There were significantly more asymptomatic days during treatment compared to baseline (86 vs 67). Chhabra SK, Gaur SN Effect of long-term treatment with sodium cromoglycate on nonspecific bronchial hyperresponslveness In asthma. Chest 95 1235-1238. Jun t 989 0523

... and hypersensitivity is decreased by azelastine

Bronchial sensitivity to methacholine chloride challenge was significantly reduced in 21 patients with bronchial asthma after 8 weeks' treatment with oral azelastine 2mg bid. The threshold of responsiveness to methacholine was increased after 4 weeks, and was significantly greater after 8 weeks' treatment. Indices of respiratory resistance and reactivity were not significantly changed by azelastine treatment.

The authors concluded that the improvement in bronchial sensitivity might be due to leukotriene antagonism, inhibition of histamine release or changes in beta adrenergic responsiveness. Iwata M. Tano M. Sugiyama S, Takl F. Sa take T Effect of azelasflne. an antlasthmatlc drug. on bronchial responsiveness In patients with bronchial asthma Chest 95 1231-1234 Jun 1989 522

0156-2703/89/0715-0015/0$01.00/0 © ADIS Press INPHARMA@ 15 Jul 1989 15