Inhaled nebulized adrenaline improves lung function in infants with acute bronchiolitis

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Respiratory Medicine
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Beta2-agonists offer limited symptomatic relief for infants with acute bronchiolitis.
• Inhaled racemic adrenaline is a common treatment in Norway, with perceived clinical effectiveness.
• There is a lack of lung function data regarding acute bronchiolitis and inhaled adrenaline's effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effects of inhaled nebulized racemic adrenaline on lung function in infants with acute bronchiolitis.
• To compare lung function between infants with acute bronchiolitis and healthy controls.
• To evaluate clinical improvement following adrenaline treatment.

Main Methods:

• Tidal flow-volume loops were measured in 16 infants with acute bronchiolitis and 7 healthy controls.
• Measurements were repeated 15 minutes after inhaled nebulized racemic adrenaline administration in 9 bronchiolitis patients.
• The ratio of time to peak expiratory flow to total expiratory time (tPTEF/tE) was analyzed.

Main Results:

• Infants with acute bronchiolitis showed a significantly reduced tPTEF/tE ratio compared to controls.
• Inhaled racemic adrenaline significantly improved the tPTEF/tE ratio in bronchiolitis patients.
• Significant clinical improvement was observed concurrently with lung function enhancement.

Conclusions:

• Lung function, specifically tPTEF/tE, is impaired in infants with acute bronchiolitis.
• Inhaled racemic adrenaline demonstrates a significant positive effect on lung function in these infants.
• Racemic adrenaline presents a potentially valuable therapeutic option for managing acute bronchiolitis in infants.