Abstract
We examined the bronchodilator responses to inhalation of salbutamol (200 micrograms) and of ipratropium bromide (40 micrograms) in the morning and in the afternoon before and during a course of oral prednisolone (40 mg daily) in 15 patients with chronic, partly reversible airflow obstruction. Bronchodilatation was assessed by measuring serial peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR) for six hours after aerosol drug administration and calculating the area under the time-response curves. Eleven patients were found to be corticosteroid resistant in not attaining a baseline bronchodilatation of at least 25% during corticosteroid treatment. These patients also failed to show any enhancement of their bronchodilator responses to either salbutamol or ipratropium bromide during prednisolone administration. We therefore conclude that there is no rationale for giving or continuing corticosteroid treatment in known steroid-resistant patients in the hope of nevertheless potentiating their bronchodilator responses to salbutamol or ipratropium bromide.
Full text
PDF



Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- BEEREL F., JICK H., TYLER J. M. A controlled study of the effect of prednisone on air-flow obstruction in severe pulmonary emphysema. N Engl J Med. 1963 Jan 31;268:226–230. doi: 10.1056/NEJM196301312680502. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Beerel F. R., Vance J. W. Prednisone treatment for stable pulmonary emphysema. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1971 Aug;104(2):264–266. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1971.104.2.264. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- CARRYER H. M., KOELSCHE G. A., PRICKMAN L. E., MAYTUM C. K., LAKE C. F., WILLIAMS H. L. Effects of cortisone on bronchial asthma and hay fever occurring in subjects sensitive to ragweed pollen. Proc Staff Meet Mayo Clin. 1950 Aug 16;25(17):482–486. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- CLIFTON M., STUART-HARRIS C. H. Steroid therapy in chronic bronchitis. Lancet. 1962 Jun 23;1(7243):1311–1313. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(62)92418-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Clark T. J. Definition of asthma for clinical trials [proceedings]. Br J Dis Chest. 1977 Oct;71(4):225–227. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Clark T. J., Hetzel M. R. Diurnal variation of asthma. Br J Dis Chest. 1977 Apr;71(2):87–92. doi: 10.1016/0007-0971(77)90087-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Dawkins K. D., Muers M. F. Diurnal variation in airflow obstruction in chronic bronchitis. Thorax. 1981 Aug;36(8):618–621. doi: 10.1136/thx.36.8.618. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Ellul-Micallef R., Borthwick R. C., McHardy G. J. The time-course of response to prednisolone in chronic bronchial asthma. Clin Sci Mol Med. 1974 Aug;47(2):105–117. doi: 10.1042/cs0470105. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Ellul-Micallef R., Fenech F. F. Effect of intravenous prednisolone in asthmatics with diminished adrenergic responsiveness. Lancet. 1975 Dec 27;2(7948):1269–1271. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(75)90608-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Evans J. A., Morrison I. M., Saunders K. B. A controlled trial of prednisone, in low dosage, in patients with chronic airways obstruction. Thorax. 1974 Jul;29(4):401–406. doi: 10.1136/thx.29.4.401. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- FREEDMAN B. J. BRONCHODILATORS AND CORTICOSTEROIDS IN CHRONIC BRONCHITIS AND EMPHYSEMA. Br Med J. 1963 Dec 14;2(5371):1509–1512. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.5371.1509. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Freedman B. J. Patterns of response to bronchodilators in asthma. Br J Dis Chest. 1978 Apr;72(2):95–107. doi: 10.1016/0007-0971(78)90018-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- HUME K. M., RHYS JONES E. The response to bronchodilators in intrinsic asthma. Q J Med. 1961 Apr;30:189–199. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Harding S. M., Freedman S. A comparison of oral and inhaled steroids in patients with chronic airways obstruction: features determining response. Thorax. 1978 Apr;33(2):214–218. doi: 10.1136/thx.33.2.214. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kalsner S. Mechanism of hydrocortisone potentiation of responses to epinephrine and norepinephrine in rabbit aorta. Circ Res. 1969 Mar;24(3):383–395. doi: 10.1161/01.res.24.3.383. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lightbody I. M., Ingram C. G., Legge J. S., Johnston R. N. Ipratropium bromide, salbutamol and prednisolone in bronchial asthma and chronic bronchitis. Br J Dis Chest. 1978 Jul;72(3):181–186. doi: 10.1016/0007-0971(78)90039-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- PHEAR D., BALL K., PAGE F. Prolonged treatment with steroids in severe chronic asthma. Lancet. 1960 Jan 16;1(7116):139–141. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(60)90057-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Pride N. B. Which physiological tests? [proceedings]. Br J Dis Chest. 1977 Oct;71(4):230–232. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sahn S. A. Corticosteroids in chronic bronchitis and pulmonary emphysema. Chest. 1978 Mar;73(3):389–396. doi: 10.1378/chest.73.3.389. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Shenfield G. M., Hodson M. E., Clarke S. W., Paterson J. W. Interaction of corticosteroids and catecholamines in the treatment of asthma. Thorax. 1975 Aug;30(4):430–435. doi: 10.1136/thx.30.4.430. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Shim C., Stover D. E., Williams M. H., Jr Response to corticosteroids in chronic bronchitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1978 Dec;62(6):363–367. doi: 10.1016/0091-6749(78)90137-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Webb J., Clark T. J., Chilvers C. Time course of response to prednisolone in chronic airflow obstruction. Thorax. 1981 Jan;36(1):18–21. doi: 10.1136/thx.36.1.18. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]