Cinnarizine in the treatment of chronic asthma.
1 Cinnarizine, an inhibitor of calcium ion transport across smooth muscle cell membrane, has been shown to exert an anti-asthmatic effect in patients with chronic asthma. 2 It is postulated that antagonism to calcium ion transport across the mast cell membrane may cause the compound to have a pharmacological effect similar to sodium cromoglycate. 3 Cinnarizine is orally active and its therapeutic effect is demonstrated in a double-blind, cross-over, placebo controlled study. 4 Patient benefit was shown by a significant improvement in peak flow rate. A non-significant trend towards a reduction in symptomatic bronchodilator usage and a decrease in asthma symptom score was also shown. 5 It is concluded that cinnarizine could well prove to be the first of a new family of anti-asthmatic drugs offering a protective effect when taken systemically.
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002936:Cinnarizine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010919:Placebos
D010879:Piperazines; D010919:Placebos; D002936:Cinnarizine