Abstract des Autors

We investigated the effects of flurbiprofen, a cydlooxygenase inhibitor, on exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in order to assess the role of prostaglandins in exercise-induced asthma. Flurbiprofen or placebo were administered to eight nonsmoker asthmatic patients two hours before exercise, in two different days, in a double-blind randomized trial. Airway calibre was determined by measurement of the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) immediately prior to exercise challenge and over 30 min post-exercise. Following placebo the mean maximal percentage fall in FEV1 was 25.7%. Flurbiprofen administration attenuated but not inhibited the exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (maximal percentage fall in FEV1, 16.1%), (p<0.01). We conclude that flurbiprofen is effective in reducing exercise induced asthma, even though its action is too weak to utilize this drug for therapy. Furthermore our data suggest that prostaglandin generation may contribute to exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. Verf.-Referat