The management of coexisting asthma and cardiac disease.
We retrospectively reviewed charts of asthmatics who have coexistent cardiac disease. Twenty-nine patients with a mean age of 64.6 received 621 injections of epinephrine for acute asthma. Clinical improvement in asthma was noted and only three patients experienced a total of five (0.8%) adverse reactions temporally related to the administration of epinephrine. Twelve asthmatic patients were treated with beta adrenergic receptor blockers for a coexistent cardiac disease. In general, these patients tolerated the beta-blocker without a significant deterioration in respiratory function. Epinephrine and beta-blockers may be used safely in some asthmatics with heart disease when the medication is indicated and cautiously administered.
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D001986:Bronchial Spasm / Q000188:drug therapy; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D004837:Epinephrine