Comparative efficacy of inhaled albuterol between two hand-held delivery devices in horses with recurrent airway obstruction.

Abstract

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY:

Studies investigating the clinical efficacy of albuterol administered with the same propellant and commercially available delivery devices in horses with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) are not currently available.

OBJECTIVES:

To determine the efficacy of aerosolised albuterol administered to horses with RAO by means of 2 commercially available, hand-held delivery devices.

METHODS:

Ten horses with RAO were kept in a dusty environment and fed mouldy hay to induce airway obstruction. Lung mechanics were measured before and after the procedure. ΔP(max) was measured 5 min after administration of 180 µg of albuterol from a pressurised metered dose inhaler, using an aerosol delivery device chosen randomly. This process was repeated every 5 min until maximal bronchodilation was achieved. After a 24 h washout period, lung mechanics data were again collected using the other aerosol delivery device.

RESULTS:

Aerosolised albuterol induced a significant and rapid bronchodilation in the horses using both aerosol delivery devices. No statistically significant difference in pulmonary function was observed in response to albuterol therapy between the 2 devices. The dose required to achieve 50% of maximal bronchodilation was not statistically different between the 2 devices (173.35 ± 78.35 µg with Device 1 and 228.49 ± 144.99 µg with Device 2, P = 0.26). The decrease in lung resistance tended to be more pronounced after albuterol administration with Device 1 (P = 0.066).

CONCLUSIONS:

Aerosolised albuterol is an effective bronchodilator in horses with recurrent airway obstruction. There is no statistically significant difference between the 2 commercially available aerosol delivery devices in terms of efficacy.

POTENTIAL RELEVANCE:

Aerosolised albuterol is effectively delivered using currently available devices leading to maximal bronchodilation in horses with RAO at an average dose of 540 µg.

• Authors: F R Bertin, K M Ivester, L L Couëtil
• Journal: Equine veterinary journal (Equine Vet J) Vol. 43 Issue 4 Pg. 393-8 (Jul 2011) ISSN: 2042-3306 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21496081 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2011 EVJ Ltd.

Chemical References

• Bronchodilator Agents
• Albuterol

Topics

• Administration, Inhalation
• Airway Obstruction (drug therapy, veterinary)
• Albuterol (administration & dosage)
• Animals
• Bronchodilator Agents (administration & dosage)
• Female
• Horse Diseases (drug therapy)
• Horses
• Male
• Metered Dose Inhalers (standards, veterinary)
• Respiratory Function Tests (veterinary)
• Statistics, Nonparametric