title: Long-acting bronchodilators in premenstrual exacerbation of asthma.
abstract: Premenstrual exacerbation (PME) of asthma occurs during the 5-10 days leading up to the menses and can be demonstrated in about 40% of asthmatic females. Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and beta2-agonist consumption were recorded during three menstrual cycles in 67 females with mild-severe asthma. All were treated with inhaled glucocorticosteroids (IGC) and beta2-agonists, as required. Following, the patients with a premenstrual reduction in PEFR > 20%, received either salmeterol, 50 microg x 2 day(-1) or placebo, in the 10 days leading up to the menses, in a randomized, double-blind, cross-over design. Thirteen patients (19.4%) showed PME (mean +/- SEM decrease in PEFR 27 +/- 2.2%) in association with a significant increase in the mean daily beta2-agonist consumption. Following administration of salmeterol, there was a complete ablation of the PME in seven patients, a partial ablation in two patients and no effect in the remaining four patients. Only one patient showed a partial ablation of the PME following placebo. There was also a significant decrease in the beta2-agonists consumption in the responders. About 20% of the women with asthma, under chronic IGC treatment, had PME of asthma. In 54% of them, it could be prevented by the use of long-acting bronchodilators (LABD) during the 10 days leading up to the menses, and partially prevented in another 15%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine A, Hillel-Yaffe Medical Center, Hadera, Israel.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Magadle
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Berar-Yanay
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Weiner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000420:Albuterol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D008875:Middle Aged; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D000068299:Salmeterol Xinafoate; D013256:Steroids; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D013256:Steroids; D000068299:Salmeterol Xinafoate; D000420:Albuterol