title: Inhibition of antigen-induced bronchoconstriction by a new calcium antagonist, gallopamil: comparison with cromolyn sodium.
abstract: We have previously demonstrated partial attenuation of antigen-induced bronchoconstriction by aerosolized verapamil (Chest 1985;88:176-80). In the present investigation, we studied the effect of a new calcium antagonist, gallopamil, on allergic bronchial reactivity and compared it to that of cromolyn sodium. Nine asymptomatic subjects with ragweed hypersensitivity and a history of bronchial asthma were studied on 4 different days, without and after pretreatments with aerosolized placebo, gallopamil (10 mg), or cromolyn sodium (20 mg) solution, in a single-blind, randomized, crossover design. Bronchial reactivity was measured as the cumulative provocative dose of ragweed antigen in breath units (PD35) that caused a 35% decrease in specific airway conductance (SGaw). Baseline SGaw was comparable on control, placebo-, gallopamil- and cromolyn sodium-treatment days. The airway deposition dose of gallopamil and cromolyn sodium was calculated at 1.05 mg and 2.1 mg, respectively. Neither cromolyn sodium nor gallopamil had a significant effect on mean SGaw. Mean +/- PD35 on control and placebo-treatment days was 0.54 +/- 0.95 and 0.23 +/- 0.17 breath units, respectively. Aerosolized gallopamil and cromolyn sodium increased the mean PD35 to 56 +/- 41 and 24 +/- 35 breath units, respectively (p less than 0.05). Gallopamil completely inhibited the antigen-induced bronchoconstriction in six (67%) subjects, whereas cromolyn sodium was totally effective in two of the nine (22%) subjects. These results demonstrate that aerosolized gallopamil inhibits allergic bronchial reactivity with efficacy comparable or better than cromolyn sodium.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000403:Airway Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy; D001986:Bronchial Spasm / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D005711:Gallopamil / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D005711:Gallopamil; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium