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Pilot study to compare the bronchodilator and metabolic responses to terbutaline infusion in seven asthmatic subjects—are they correlated?
Author(s) -
Haffner C. A.,
Hughes B.,
Kendall M J.,
Holder R.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of clinical pharmacy and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.622
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1365-2710
pISSN - 0269-4727
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2710.1992.tb01297.x
Subject(s) - terbutaline , bronchodilator , agonist , potassium , medicine , bronchodilator agents , beta (programming language) , endocrinology , anesthesia , asthma , chemistry , receptor , organic chemistry , computer science , programming language
SUMMARY We compared the changes in peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), plasma potassium and plasma glucose during and after an infusion of the β 2 ‐agonist, terbutaline, in seven asthmatic subjects. Our aim was to establish whether these metabolic parameters could be correlated with PEFR. The percentage changes in PEFR were significantly correlated with the percentage changes in glucose ( r = 0.60, P<0.001) and potassium ( r = −0.64, P<0.001). Values for glucose and potassium changes were also correlated significantly with each other ( r = 0.86, P<0.001). This suggests that in asthmatic subjects on β 2 ‐agonist treatment, plasma potassium could be used as a surrogate marker for β 2 activity at bronchi. It also implies that the most effective β 2 ‐agonist bronchodilators will produce the greatest fall in plasma potassium. Further studies with a larger number of patients are needed to confirm this.