ABSTRACT
AIMS: To investigate the effect of (+)-sotalol, which is not thought to possess clinically significant beta-adrenoceptor blocking activity, on airway responsiveness in subjects with mild asthma. METHODS: A placebo controlled, double-blind, single dose, cross over study, evaluating the effects of oral (+)-sotalol 300 mg and oral (+/-)-sotalol 240 mg, on airway responsiveness, FEV1, and heart rate in 18 asthmatic volunteers with quantifiable levels of airway responsiveness. RESULTS: Compared with placebo, (+)-sotalol induced a significant increase in airway responsiveness, and a significant decrease in FEV1, but there was no significant change in heart rate. Following (+/-)-sotalol there was no significant effect on airway responsiveness, but there were significant decreases in FEV1 and heart rate. In one subject both (+)-sotalol and (+/-)-sotalol provoked a 49% decrement in FEV1, and in another there were decrements of 20% and 18%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Despite theoretical considerations, it cannot be assumed that (+)-sotalol is safe in patients with asthma.
Subject(s)
Adrenergic beta-Agonists/adverse effects , Asthma/drug therapy , Sotalol/adverse effects , Adolescent , Adrenergic beta-Agonists/administration & dosage , Adult , Aged , Airway Resistance/drug effects , Asthma/physiopathology , Cross-Over Studies , Double-Blind Method , Female , Heart Rate/drug effects , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Respiratory Function Tests , Sotalol/administration & dosageABSTRACT
A case of occupational asthma in a 41 year old histopathology laboratory technician attributable to a powder preparation of the porcine pancreatic enzyme amylase is reported. The diagnosis was confirmed by a double blind, placebo controlled, inhalation challenge study which showed immediate and late asthmatic reactions associated with a significant increase in airway responsiveness to methacholine.
Subject(s)
Amylases/adverse effects , Asthma/chemically induced , Medical Laboratory Personnel , Occupational Diseases/chemically induced , Adult , Animals , Bronchial Provocation Tests , Double-Blind Method , Forced Expiratory Volume , Humans , Male , Placebos , SwineABSTRACT
We report the case of a 79-year-old woman with acute immune thrombocytopenic purpura who spontaneously developed laryngeal haematomas which produced acute upper airway obstruction.
Subject(s)
Airway Obstruction/etiology , Hematoma/complications , Laryngeal Diseases/complications , Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic/complications , Acute Disease , Aged , Female , HumansABSTRACT
We report two patients with acute leukaemia who received emetogenic cytotoxic drugs and were on therapeutic doses of sodium valproate for epilepsy. Neither patient reported significant nausea nor vomited at any time during the chemotherapy, at times requiring no anti-emetic treatment whatsoever. We suggest that this absence of nausea was due to an anti-emetic effect of sodium valproate.
