Furosemide inhalation in dyspnea of mustard gas-exposed patients: a triple-blind randomized study.
Dyspnea is the hallmark symptom of some respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchiolitis and is a major reason for which these patients seek medical attention. We performed a randomized triple-blind controlled crossover clinical trial in which we compared the efficacy of inhaled furosemide (4 ml equal to 40 mg in 10 min) with placebo (4 ml of 0.9% saline solution) in 41 mustard gas-exposed patients. Dyspnea index, visual analog scale (VAS), and pulmonary function test results were obtained before and 4 h after treatments. Results showed that both furosemide and placebo significantly decreased VAS and dyspnea index and increased FEV(1), FVC, and FEV(1)/FVC, while there was no difference between the two drugs in these effects (p values .23, .61, .81, .36, and .27, respectively). Our results failed to address the previously reported effects of inhaled furosemide on dyspnea. In fact, we suggest that patients with a previous exposure to sulfur mustard, in which chronic bronchitis and bronchiolitis are the most suggested underlying mechanisms, may not benefit from furosemide to alleviate their dyspnea.
Panahi
Yunes
Y
Research Center of Chemical Injuries, Baqiyatallah Medical Science University, Tehran, Iran. yunespanahi@bmsu.ac.ir
Motiei-Langroudi
Rouzbeh
R
Alaeddini
Farshid
F
Naghizadeh
Mohammad Mehdi
MM
Aslani
Jafar
J
Ghanei
Mostafa
M
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004232:Diuretics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D005665:Furosemide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D008875:Middle Aged; D009151:Mustard Gas / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012107:Research Design; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D004232:Diuretics; D005665:Furosemide; D009151:Mustard Gas