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Editorial
. 2019 Dec;15(4):273-276.
doi: 10.1183/20734735.0255-2019.

β2-agonists do not work in children under 2 years of age: myth or maxim?

Fatima Yusuf  1 , Andrew P Prayle  2 , Michael P Yanney  1
Affiliations
Editorial

β2-agonists do not work in children under 2 years of age: myth or maxim?

Fatima Yusuf et al. Breathe (Sheff). 2019 Dec.

Abstract

Wheezy infants do not respond to bronchodilators despite evidence of functioning β-adrenoceptors. This is because the predominant aetiology, bronchiolitis, is characterised by small airway oedema and increased mucus, for which β2-agonists are ineffective. http://bit.ly/2Ws9ffh.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: F. Yusuf has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: A.P. Prayle reports non-financial support from Cambridge Research Innovations LTD (provision of N-Tidal C devices free of charge to investigate pre-school and school age wheezing disorders), outside the submitted work. This work is investigating novel physiological measures, including investigating bronchodilators in children. Conflict of interest: M.P. Yanney has nothing to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Simplified diagram to illustrate the mechanism of action of the β2-receptor. The G protein-coupled receptor is activated by agonist binding, leading to conversion of ATP to cAMP by adenylyl cyclase, and downstream inhibition of intracellular calcium release, and subsequent bronchial smooth muscle relaxation. Figure created using BioRender.com
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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