Inhaled clemastine, an H1 antihistamine inhibits airway narrowing caused by aerosols of non-isotonic saline

Asthmatic subjects were challenged with aerosols of hyper- and hypotonic saline 15 min (Group A) and 90 min (Group B) after inhaling clemastine. Measurements were made of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) before and after medication and after challenge. When the FEV1 values (% predicted) were compared on the active and placebo days they were higher 15 min after clemastine (p less than 0.05) for both challenges and higher 90 min after clemastine inhalation (p less than 0.05) for the hypertonic challenge. The % fall in FEV1 was compared after the same concentration of saline aerosol had been given on both active and placebo days. In Group A the % fall in FEV1 on the clemastine day was reduced after challenge with hypertonic (p less than 0.02) and hypotonic (p less than 0.03) aerosol. In Group B there was a reduction in the % fall in FEV1 on the clemastine day only after hypertonic challenge (p less than 0.04). The protective effect afforded by clemastine was unrelated to change in baseline lung function. We conclude that histamine is an important mediator of the airway response to non-isotonic aerosols and suggest that the aerosol route of administration may be useful for delivering antihistamines.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Y. Jia, X. Wang, L. Varty, C. A. Rizzo, R. Yang, C. C. Correll, P. T. Phelps, R. W. Egan, and J. A. Hey Functional TRPV4 channels are expressed in human airway smooth muscle cells Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, August 1, 2004; 287(2): L272 - L278. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I.E. Zuhlke, F. Kanniess, K. Richter, D. Nielsen-Gode, S. Bohme, R.A. Jorres, and H. Magnussen Montelukast attenuates the airway response to hypertonic saline in moderate-to-severe COPD Eur. Respir. J., December 1, 2003; 22(6): 926 - 930. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. TAUBE, O. HOLZ, M. MUCKE, R. A. JORRES, and H. MAGNUSSEN Airway Response to Inhaled Hypertonic Saline in Patients with Moderate to Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., November 15, 2001; 164(10): 1810 - 1815. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. W. F. M. de GOUW, J. HENDRIKS, A. M. WOLTMAN, I. M. TWISS, and P. J. STERK Exhaled Nitric Oxide (NO) Is Reduced Shortly after Bronchoconstriction to Direct and Indirect Stimuli in Asthma Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., July 1, 1998; 158(1): 315 - 319. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. D. ANDERSON, J. BRANNAN, J. SPRING, N. SPALDING, L. T. RODWELL, K. CHAN, I. GONDA, A. WALSH, and A. R. CLARK A New Method For Bronchial-provocation Testing in Asthmatic Subjects Using a Dry Powder of Mannitol Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., September 1, 1997; 156(3): 758 - 765. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]