title: Selective histamine blockade in childhood asthma; the effect of terfenadine on resting bronchial tone and exercise induced bronchoconstriction.
abstract: The orally active histamine H1 blocker terfenadine was investigated for its effect on resting bronchial tone and exercise induced bronchoconstriction in 20 asthmatic children by a double blind placebo controlled study. Terfenadine produced acute broncholidation with an average 32% improvement in FEV1 by 3 h. After exercise challenge terfenadine partially inhibited exercise induced bronchoconstriction. The maximum fall in PEFR after exercise was reduced from 32% after placebo to 21.5% after terfenadine. These results suggest that asthmatic children have background resting 'histamine tone' that is reversible by histamine H1 blockage.
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Unit, Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital, Alder Hey, U.K.
authors.forename: P I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: MacFarlane
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Heaf
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000403:Airway Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001250:Asthma, Exercise-Induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001980:Bronchi / Q000187:drug effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D016593:Terfenadine
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D016593:Terfenadine