Summary
Aerosols of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and E2 (PGE2) were evaluated as bronchodilators in 32 subjects (6 normals, 15 with bronchial asthma and 11 with chronic bronchitis). PGE2 caused a significant decrease in pulmonary resistance (mean values 3.2 and 2.6 cm H2O/l/sec before and after inhalation, respectively). There were no significant changes in pulmonary resistance after PGE1. Bronchoconstriction occurred in some subjects whose pulmonary resistance had been within normal limits. Static pulmonary compliance did not show any definite change. The frequency dependence of dynamic compliance was measured in 19 subjects; in 3 the results suggested that bronchoconstriction after PGE1 preferentially affected small airways; in 1 other subject bronchodilatation occurred exclusively in the small airways. Arterial Po2 decreased in 4 out of 5 patients after inhalation of PGE1. This was thought to be due to greater unevenness of the ventilation perfusion ratio, since the dynamic pulmonary compliance became more dependent on respiratory frequency even though pulmonary resistance improved in these subjects. The pulse rate did not change significantly, but mean blood pressure decreased in 8 out of 15 subjects. Cough and irrtation of the pharynx were noted in 42 and 62 per cent of subjects during and after the inhalation of PGE1 and PGe2, respectively. Five and 23 percent of the subjects complained of headache after inhaling PGE1 and PGE2. The results suggest that aerosols of PGE2 have a bronchodilating action which could be of use in clinical practice, if untoward responses such as irritation of the pharynx, cough and headache could be avoided.
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Kawakami, Y., Uchiyama, K., Irie, T. et al. Evaluation of aerosols of prostaglandins E1 and E2 as bronchodilators. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 6, 127–132 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00562439
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00562439