Airway responses to salbutamol after exposure to chemical warfare

Background and objectives: Increased airway responsiveness to β‐agonists is noted in asthmatics and smokers. The lung may be exposed to chemical warfare agents such as mustard gas and pulmonary complications of exposure range from no effect to severe bronchial stenosis. There is little understandin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Respirology (Carlton, Vic.) Vol. 13; no. 2; pp. 288 - 293
Main Authors:	BOSKABADY, Mohammad H., ATTARAN, Dawood, SHAFFEI, Mohammad N.
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Melbourne, Australia Blackwell Publishing Asia 01-03-2008
Subjects:	Adult airway responsiveness Albuterol - administration & dosage Albuterol - pharmacology asthma Bronchi - drug effects Bronchi - physiopathology Bronchial Provocation Tests Bronchodilator Agents - administration & dosage Bronchodilator Agents - pharmacology chemical warfare Chemical Warfare Agents - adverse effects Dose-Response Relationship, Drug Female Forced Expiratory Volume - physiology Humans Lung Diseases - etiology Lung Diseases - physiopathology Male Middle Aged mustard gas salbutamol
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Summary:	Background and objectives: Increased airway responsiveness to β‐agonists is noted in asthmatics and smokers. The lung may be exposed to chemical warfare agents such as mustard gas and pulmonary complications of exposure range from no effect to severe bronchial stenosis. There is little understanding of airway hyperresponsiveness to β‐agonist drugs in chemical war victims and this study examined airway responsiveness to salbutamol in victims of chemical warfare. Methods: The threshold concentrations of inhaled salbutamol required for a 20% change in FEV1 as PC20, or a 35% change in specific airway conductance (sGaw) as PC35 were measured in 22 persons exposed to chemical warfare and 15 normal control subjects. Results: In 11 of the 22 subjects PC20 salbutamol could be measured and in 15 of the 22 subjects PC35 salbutamol could be measured. This group of patients was the responder group (PC20 = 10.79 and PC35 = 8.55 mg/L) and in them the concentration of salbutamol needed for a response was significantly lower than that required in normal controls (PC20 = 237.68 and PC35 = 88.72 mg/L, P < 0.001). There was a significant correlation between FEV1 and PC20 salbutamol (r = 0.815, P < 0.001). Conclusions: These results showed increased airway responsiveness to salbutamol in most subjects exposed to chemical warfare; this was correlated with airway calibre.
Bibliography:	ark:/67375/WNG-7TWRWXB5-H istex:666EF73182ED4B14B941FC12D3DA3D8A563D962F ArticleID:RESP1157
ISSN:	1323-7799 1440-1843
DOI:	10.1111/j.1440-1843.2007.01157.x