The purpose of this study was to determine the intensity and duration of the protective effect of
fenoterol (200 micrograms) in
allergen-induced
bronchospasm and to compare its effect with that of DSCG (20 mg). Twelve atopic-asthmatic patients, with ages ranging from 10 to 41 years, participated in the study. At the time of the study their symptoms were well controlled without the use of
anti-asthmatic drugs and their FEV1 was greater than 80% of predicted and did not vary by more than 10% on each study day. The study was a double-blind cross over trial. Each
drug was given separately at 1 week intervals according to an appropriate random plan. During the treatment the patients were given two puffs of metered dose
aerosol and a
capsule of inhalation
powder. Each patient was given
aerosol with test
drug and placebo
aerosol alternately, according to the double-blind method. The
allergen was given 90 min after the administration of the drugs, and parameters of the respiratory function were controlled over a period of 6 h. Subsequently, the protective effect of 200 micrograms
fenoterol administered 4 h before the
allergen was studied openly, and showed that
fenoterol possesses a protective effect in
allergen-induced
bronchospasm. This effect, although slightly reduced, persists even when the
allergen is administered 4 h later.