title: Effect of inhaled glutathione on airway response to 'Fog' challenge in asthmatic patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We report on the effect of glutathione, an antioxidant compound on the airway response to the ultrasonically nebulised distilled water (UNDW, 'fog') challenge.
  
  
  METHODS
  12 subjects with mild-to-moderate bronchial asthma underwent double-blind, cross-over pretreatment, administered 30 min earlier, in a randomised order with inhaled glutathione (G) (600 mg), sodium cromoglycate (SCG) (20 mg) and placebo (P), followed by the challenge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After P pretreatment UNDW challenge caused a mean 20.41% decrease in FEV-1 (p < 0.05), after G, a mean 6.04% fall in FEV-1 (p = n.s.), and after SCG a mean 5.99% fall in FEV-1 (p = n.s.).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  G significantly attenuated 'fog'-induced falls in FEV-1 (p < 0.001 compared with P) and showed a protective effect on UNDW-induced bronchoconstriction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Bagnato
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gulli
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Pasquale
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Giacobbe
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spatari
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Purello D'Ambrosio
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests / Q000379:methods; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D005978:Glutathione; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium