Bronchodilators, Pulmonary Function, and Asthma
Authors: MAURICIO J. DULFANO
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1968)

Editorial Notes1 April 1968Bronchodilators, Pulmonary Function, and AsthmaMAURICIO J. DULFANO, M.D.MAURICIO J. DULFANO, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-68-4-955 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptThe previously undisputed benefits of isoproterenol, epinephrine, and aminophylline in treatment of bronchial asthma have recently come under critical review. For decades pulmonary physiologists characterized the asthmatic disturbance primarily in terms of increased work of breathing resulting from augmented airway resistance and uneven distribution of ventilation throughout the lung, while little attention was directed to the characteristics of pulmonary blood flow (Q) distribution, and the resultant effects on alveolar ventilation-perfusion ratios (VA/QT), "physiological" shunt (QS/QT), and the alveolar-arterial oxygen tension gradient (A-ao2D). The concept that hypoxemia and hypercapnia are infrequent in asthma (1) went unchallenged for years until convincing evidence...References1. HERSCHFUSBRESNICKSEGAL JAEMS: Pulmonary function studies in bronchial asthma. Amer. J. Med. 14: 23, 1953. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. HALMAGYICOTES DJE: Reduction in systemic blood oxygen as a result of procedures affecting the pulmonary circulation in patients with chronic pulmonary disease. Clin. Sci. 18: 475, 1959. MedlineGoogle Scholar3. WILLIAMSZOHMAN MHLR: Cardiopulmonary function in bronchial asthma. A comparison with chronic pulmonary emphysema. Amer. Rev. Resp. Dis. 81: 173, 1960. MedlineGoogle Scholar4. TAIREAD EJ: Blood-gas tension in bronchial asthma. Lancet 1: 644, 1967. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. REESMILLARDONALD HAJSKW: Adrenaline in bronchial asthma. Lancet 2: 1164, 1967. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. FIELD GB: The effect of posture, oxygen, isoproterenol and atropine on ventilation-perfusion relationship in the lung in asthma. Clin. Sci. 32: 279, 1967. MedlineGoogle Scholar7. WADDELLEMERSONGUNSTONE JAPARF: Hypoxia in bronchial asthma. Brit. Med. J. 2: 402, 1967. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. KNUDSONCONSTANTINE RJHP: An effect of isoproterenol on ventilation-perfusion in asthmatics versus normal subjects. J. Appl. Physiol. 22: 402, 1967. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9. PALMERDIAMENT KNML: Effects of aerosol isoprenaline on blood-gas tensions in severe bronchial asthma. Lancet 2: 1232, 1967. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar10. LOCKHARTLISSACSALMONZAPPACOSTABENISMAIL AJDCM: Effects of isoproterenol on the pulmonary circulation in obstructive airways disease. Clin. Sci. 32: 177, 1967. MedlineGoogle Scholar11. REESBORTHWICKMILLARDONALD HARCJSKW: Aminophylline in bronchial asthma. Lancet 2: 1167, 1967. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar12. LEDBETTERBRUCKFARHI MKELE: Perfusion of the underventilated compartments of the lung in asthmatic children. J. Clin. Invest. 43: 2233, 1964. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar13. AVIADOSCHMIDT DMCF: Effects of sympathomimetic drugs on pulmonary circulation with special reference to a new pulmonary vasodilator. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 120: 512, 1957. MedlineGoogle Scholar14. DODGELORDSANDLER HTJDH: Cardiovascular effects of isoproterenol in normal subjects and subjects with congestive heart failure. Amer. Heart J. 60: 94, 1960. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar15. WILLIAMSWHITEBEHNKE JFDHRH: Change in pulmonary hemodynamics produced by isoproterenol infusion in emphysematous patients. Circulation 28: 396, 1963. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar16. FISHMAN AP: Respiratory gases in the regulation of the pulmonary circulation. Physiol. Rev. 41: 214, 1961. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar17. WEISSFALING EJ: Personal communication. Google Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byModern treatment of bronchial asthmaBronchodilator TherapyIntravenous isoproterenol: Rationale for bronchial asthmaKrankheiten der Atemwege und des MediastinumsKrankheiten der Atemwege und des MediastinumsThe Treatment of Bronchial Asthma 1 April 1968Volume 68, Issue 4Page: 955-956KeywordsAsthmaEpinephrineHypercapniaHypoxiaIsoproterenolLungsOxygenPulmonary functionRespiratory physiologyVentilation perfusion Issue Published: 1 April 1968 PDF downloadLoading ...