title: Effect of verapamil inhalation on bronchial asthma.
abstract: The effect of inhaled verapamil 20 mg on pulmonary functions and arterial blood gases in 15 patients with extrinsic bronchial asthma was studied in single-blind fashion. A significant decrease (p less than 0.05) in airway resistance and a significant increase (p less than 0.01) in specific conductance was observed after verapamil inhalation. A small increase (p less than 0.1) was observed in forced vital capacity and peak expiratory flow rate after verapamil inhalation; however, this was not statistically significant. None of the parameters of pulmonary function tests showed a significant change after normal saline inhalation. A significant fall in PaO2 (p less than 0.05) and PaCO2 (p less than 0.05) was noted after normal saline inhalation. PaCO2 showed a significant fall (p less than 0.01) after verapamil inhalation. Alveolar arterial oxygen gradient P(A-a)O2 widened significantly (p less than 0.001) after normal saline inhalation. A larger dose (20 mg) of verapamil inhalation produces a significant bronchodilator effect on large airways, but does not produce a significant change in arterial oxygen tension from the baseline value in patients with bronchial asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Pande
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D014700:Verapamil / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014700:Verapamil