Round table on antiasthmatic drugs; beta-agonists and theophylline. Workshop on pathogenesis and therapy of bronchial asthma Cortina d'Ampezzo/1-4 April, 1987.
Beta 2-agonists and theophylline compounds are first line drugs and are extensively used in the treatment of acute bronchial asthma. Beta 2-agonists are continuously expanding as a class of drugs. Recent research has increased the available knowledge of their cardiovascular and metabolic effects. Cardiovascular effects might be due to direct stimulation of beta 2-receptors sited in the atrial muscle. Metabolic effects (i.e. increase in blood glucose, insulin and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), decrease in plasma potassium) are, at least partly, a consequence of direct or reflex stimulation. Despite recent progress, slow-release theophylline compounds remain a basic approach to asthma management. Future progress in this field will probably be concerned with a more complete knowledge of 'ultra-slow' theophylline compounds (level of the plasma concentration fluctuation and patient compliance) and more complete results regarding the influence exerted by food (and gastric pH) on the rate and extent of absorption.
Grassi
V
V
Cattedra di Semeiotica Medica, University of Brescia, Italy.
Boschetti
E
E
Tantucci
C
C
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008660:Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D013806:Theophylline / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D013806:Theophylline