Pulmonary and cardiac beta-adrenoceptor density in vivo in asthmatic subjects.
To examine whether there is a primary deficit in beta-adrenoceptor density in asthma, pulmonary and cardiac beta-receptor density was determined in vivo with positron emission tomography (PET) in 10 male asthmatic subjects (36 +/- 8 yr of age) and compared with that in 30 age-matched normal male subjects (36 +/- 8 yr of age). Pulmonary beta-receptor density was 10.3 +/- 1.8 pmol/g tissue for the asthmatic group and 10.9 +/- 1.9 for the normal group. Cardiac beta-receptor density was 9.1 +/- 3.3 pmol/g for the asthmatic group and 8.8 +/- 2.3 pmol/g for the normal group. There was no difference in either pulmonary or cardiac beta-receptor density between the two groups. In addition, an inverse relationship was observed between FEV1 % predicted and pulmonary beta-receptor density in asthmatic subjects. In conclusion, beta-receptor numbers are normal in untreated asthmatic subjects.
Qing
F
F
Department of Medicine (Respiratory Division), Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London, United Kingdom.
Rahman
S U
SU
Rhodes
C G
CG
Hayes
M J
MJ
Sriskandan
S
S
Ind
P W
PW
Jones
T
T
Hughes
J M
JM
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D002452:Cell Count; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006321:Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011412:Propanolamines; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000032:analysis*; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D011412:Propanolamines; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic; C033394:CGP 12177