Bronchial asthma as neurogenic paroxysmal inflammatory disease: a randomized trial with carbamazepine.
OBJECTIVE
Based on the assumption that bronchial asthma has not only inflammatory, but also certain neurogenic paroxysmal mechanism and pathophysiological links with other non-epileptic paroxysmal inflammatory diseases--migraine and trigeminal neuralgia, we decided to investigate efficacy of antiepileptic drug carbamazepine in patients with moderate persistent or severe asthma.


METHODS
Sixty-three patients completed randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.


RESULTS
Stable remission was achieved after carbamazepine treatment in 25 patients in active group (n=33). No significant improvement was registered in patients of placebo group (n=30). Following open-label treatment shows high and stable antiasthmatic efficacy of carbamazepine monotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Carbamazepine showed high efficacy in therapy of moderate persistent or severe bronchial asthma. Antiasthmatic activity of carbamazepine can be considered as influence on neurogenic mechanisms of asthma. We suppose that it is possible to use carbamazepine for therapy of bronchial asthma in clinical practice.
Lomia
M
M
Neurological Department of Rea Rehabilitation Centre, 18 a Vazha Pshavela ave, 0160 Tbilisi, Georgia. lomiamer@yahoo.com
Tchelidze
T
T
Pruidze
M
M
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000420:Albuterol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D002220:Carbamazepine; D000420:Albuterol