title: Bronchodilation in infants with malacia or recurrent wheeze.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Controversy remains regarding the effectiveness of bronchodilators in wheezy infants.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effect of inhaled beta(2) agonists on lung function in infants with malacia or recurrent wheeze, and to determine whether a negative effect of beta(2) agonists on forced expiratory flow (V'(maxFRC)) is more pronounced in infants with airway malacia, compared to infants with wheeze.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analysed lung function data of 27 infants: eight with malacia, 19 with recurrent wheeze. Mean (SD) age was 51 (18) weeks. Mean V'(maxFRC) (in Z score) was assessed before and after inhalation of beta(2) agonists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline V'(maxFRC) was below reference values for both groups. Following inhalation of beta(2) agonists the mean (95% CI) change in mean V'(maxFRC) in Z scores was -0.10 (-0.26 to 0.05) and -0.33 (-0.55 to -0.11) for the malacia and wheeze group, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In infants with wheeze, inhaled beta(2) agonists caused a significant reduction in mean V'(maxFRC). Infants with malacia were not more likely to worsen after beta(2) agonists than were infants with recurrent wheeze.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Division of Respiratory Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, Netherlands. hofhuis@alkg.azr.nl
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hofhuis
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: van der Wiel
authors.forename: H A W M
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Tiddens
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brinkhorst
authors.forename: W P J
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Holland
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: de Jongste
authors.forename: P J F M
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Merkus
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000420:Albuterol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001982:Bronchial Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005540:Forced Expiratory Flow Rates / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests / Q000379:methods; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013726:Terbutaline / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D013726:Terbutaline; D000420:Albuterol