Rebound increase in bronchial responsiveness after treatment with inhaled terbutaline

Lancet. 1988 Mar 12;1(8585):554-8. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(88)91352-9.

Abstract

To investigate whether cessation of regular beta-agonist treatment results in an increase in bronchial responsiveness, two double-blind, randomised crossover studies were done. Subjects with mild asthma were investigated to determine the course of change in bronchial responsiveness, measured as the provocative dose (PD20) of histamine that caused a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in 1 s after short-term and longer term treatment with an inhaled beta-agonist. In the first study in 8 subjects, 500 and 2000 micrograms terbutaline thrice in 1 day protected against histamine-induced bronchoconstriction, and the increase in PD20 compared with placebo remained high throughout the day and overnight. In the second study 8 subjects received placebo or terbutaline 750 micrograms thrice daily for 14 days. The protection afforded by terbutaline against histamine-induced bronchoconstriction on day 14 was less than that on day 1 by 40% in the morning and 82% in the afternoon. On day 15 PD20 was lower after stopping terbutaline than placebo, with a maximum difference of 1.5 (95% CI 0.6-2.5) doubling-doses of histamine 23 h after the end of treatment. Thus treatment with terbutaline for 1 day did not result in any rebound increase in bronchial responsiveness. Treatment for 2 weeks impaired the ability of terbutaline to protect against histamine-induced bronchoconstriction, and was followed by a rebound increase in bronchial responsiveness after cessation of treatment.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Asthma / drug therapy
  • Asthma / physiopathology
  • Bronchi / physiopathology*
  • Bronchial Provocation Tests
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Forced Expiratory Volume
  • Histamine
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Placebos
  • Random Allocation
  • Research Design
  • Respiratory Therapy
  • Terbutaline / administration & dosage
  • Terbutaline / adverse effects*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Placebos
  • Histamine
  • Terbutaline