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Long term atropine in chronic severe childhood asthma
Author(s) -
HUTCHISON ARLENE A.,
OLINSKY ANTHONY,
LANDAU LOUIS I.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1754.1980.tb01313.x
Subject(s) - medicine , atropine , placebo , crossover study , asthma , anesthesia , pulmonary function testing , clinical trial , alternative medicine , pathology
: The efficacy of adding oral or inhaled atropine sulphate to the maintenance therapy of 12 children with severe chronic asthma was assessed using a double blind crossover study lasting three months. There was no obvious subjective or objective clinical difference between either form of atropine sulphate and placebo. Twice daily peak flow rates were not significantly different for the three treatment periods. However, during oral atropine therapy there was a significant improvement in FEV 1 / VC (P < 0.05) and in RV/TLC (P< 0.05) compared to placebo. Inhaled atropine had no significant effect on baseline pulmonary function testing. No side effects were encountered. Further clinical trials are necessary to confirm the beneficial effect of long term oral atropine sulphate in the treatment of children with severe chronic asthma.