β-Adrenergic Blockade with Practolol in Acetylcholine-Sensitive Asthma Patients

Abstract
The effect of practolol on ventilatory function of 10 normal subjects and 10 acetylcholine-sensitive asthma patients was studied in a doubleblind test, by measuring FEV1 0 and VC. Spirometric measurements were made initially, after inhalation of acetylcholine and after inhalation of ore- β-iprenaline. In healthy subjects no significant differences were observed between the results obtained with placebo and those with practolol.Initial FEV1•₀ and VC of asthma patients were nonsignificantly depressed by practolol but acetylcholine decrease of FEV1•0 and VC was much more marked after practolol than after placebo. The normal response to inhalation of orciprenaline after practolol suggests that the increase of hypersensitivity to acetylcholine is not mediated by a competitive inhibition of bronchial adrenergic β-receptors.

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