β2-Adrenoceptor regulation and bronchodilator sensitivity after regular treatment with formoterol in subjects with stable asthma☆,☆☆,★,★★
Section snippets
Patients
Sixteen asthmatic subjects (eight male and eight female) (mean [SD] age, 32.5 years [15.3 years]) who were all taking inhaled corticosteroids (mean [SD] dose 800 μg/day [664 μg/day]) were recruited to take part in the study. All the subjects were using inhaled short-acting β2-agonists on an as-required basis (<2 puffs/day) for relief of symptoms, five patients were using long-acting β2-agonists (three using salmeterol and two using formoterol), and three patients were also receiving oral
Results
All subjects completed the study, and no significant adverse effects were reported. Regular twice daily treatment with formoterol produced a significant (p < 0.05) improvement in the domiciliary morning and evening peak expiratory flow rates as compared with placebo. Morning peak expiratory flow rates were 395 L/min (27 L/min) for placebo, 424 L/min (30 L/min) for 24 μg once daily formoterol, and 431 L/min (30 L/min) for 24 μg twice daily formoterol. Evening peak expiratory flow rates were 420
Discussion
Our results in asthmatic patients showed that mean values for bronchodilator sensitivity to albuterol were not impaired at 36 hours after stopping regular treatment with 24 μg once or twice daily formoterol. Indeed, this was mirrored by effects on mean values for lymphocyte β2-adrenoceptor, which showed no evidence of downregulation (Bmax) or desensitization (Emax) at the same time point. We recently performed a similar study in healthy volunteers in which β2-adrenoceptor downregulation and
References (11)
- et al.
Bronchodilator subsensitivity to salbutamol after twice daily salmeterol in asthmatic patients
Lancet
(1995) - et al.
Bronchodilator subsensitivity alter chronic dosing with eformoterol in patients with asthma
Am J Med
(1994) - et al.
β2-adrenoceptor polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to bronchodilator desensitization in moderately severe stable asthmatics
Lancet
(1997) - et al.
Association of Glu 27 β2-adrenoceptor polymorphism with lower airways reactivity in asthmatic subjects
Lancet
(1995) - et al.
Implications of genetic variability of human β2-adrenergic receptor structure
Pulm Pharmacol
(1995)
Cited by (0)
- ☆
From athe Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics and Respiratory Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee; and bthe Department of Medicine, Division of Therapeutics, University Hospital of Nottingham, Nottingham.
- ☆☆
Supported by a university grant, and Ian P. Hall is supported by the National Asthma Campaign.
- ★
Reprint requests: Brian J. Lipworth, MD, Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics and Respiratory Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, Scotland, United Kingdom.
- ★★
1/1/87717