Effect of azelastine, an antiasthmatic drug, on bronchial responsiveness in patients with bronchial asthma.

Abstract

This study was designed to clarify whether azelastine, an antiasthmatic drug, could favorably alter bronchial responsiveness in patients with bronchial asthma. To estimate bronchial responsiveness, methacholine challenge was performed in 21 patients with bronchial asthma. After the first examination, all patients were treated for eight weeks with azelastine, 2 mg twice daily. After four and eight weeks' treatment, methacholine challenge was repeated. After eight weeks' treatment, Dmin, an index of bronchial sensitivity, was increased significantly, and after four weeks an insignificant increase was observed. The RrsC, SGrs/GrsC, indices of respiratory resistance and bronchial reactivity, respectively, did not change significantly during eight weeks' treatment. Recently various chemical transmitters, especially leukotrienes, were shown to be closely related to the genesis of bronchial asthma. Accordingly, the effect of azelastine observed here might be ascribed to its antagonizing action on leukotriene. Since bronchial hyperresponsiveness is a critical etiologic factor in bronchial asthma, long-term administration of azelastine might help to modify the disease's basic pathophysiologic conditions.