[Allergen-induced bronchoconstriction in asthma: antagonistic effect of a synthetic anticholinergic drug (author's transl)]

Abstract

In ten allergic patients, the effect of inhaltion of increasing quantities of grass pollen on specific airways resistance (SRaw, measured by plethysmography) was estimated after preliminary inhalation of a placebo and of a synthetic anticholinergic drug (SCH 10000). After placebo, the inhalation of grass pollen induced in all cases a bronchoconstriction (mean increase of SRaw : 170 %). After SCH 1000, and for the same quantity of pollen inhaled, seven patients were entirely protected against the bronchoconstrictor effect of the allergen ; for the whole group, the observed bronchoconstriction was significantly lower (p less than 0.01, mean increase of SRaw : 60 %). The possible mechanisms of this protection are discussed. The results suggest that SCH 1000 could be used as a preventive drug in pollinic asthma.