Effects of salbutamol and bitolterol mesilate on pO2 levels in asthmatic patients and healthy volunteers.
The hypoxic effects of salbutamol 200 micrograms (CAS 18559-94-9) and bitolterol mesilate 740 micrograms (Biterol, CAS 30392-41-7), both administered by pressurized aerosol, were assessed by transcutaneous pO2 monitoring in 18 asthmatic subjects and in 12 normal volunteers. Unlike the latter, the asthmatics showed a highly significant difference in ptcO2 time course after the two drugs. After bitolterol mesylate the decrease in ptcO2 was much more gradual and the maximal decrease showed a 10-min time lag vs. salbutamol, which may partly explain the well known chronotropic effect of bitolterol. The clinical importance of the beta 2-induced hypoxemia may be related more to the dynamics of the ptcO2 decrease than to its absolute magnitude, which is usually fairly moderate.
Dal Negro
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Clinical Respiratory Physiology Department, Bussolengo General Hospital, Verona, Italy.
Cogo
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Pomari
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Turati
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C
Turco
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P
Allegra
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L
D000328:Adult; D000420:Albuterol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000378:metabolism*; D001785:Blood Gas Monitoring, Transcutaneous; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects*
D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D004983:Ethanolamines; C011685:bitolterol; D000420:Albuterol