[The therapeutic potentials of magnesium sulfate in bronchial asthma]

Twelve patients with preasthma (PA) and 27 bronchial asthma (BA) patients were examined for the effect of magnesium sulphate aerosol on bronchial sensitivity and reactivity to acetylcholine (ACC) and graded physical exercise (GPE) as well as on bronchial patency recorded by general plethysmography and pneumotachography. Inhalation of the drug was established to exert no bronchodilatory action but reduced, as compared with placebo, nonspecific hyperreactivity of the bronchial tree and blocked the ACC induced increment of histamine in the exhaled air condensate. The data obtained allow bronchial smooth muscles and mast cells to be regarded as targets for magnesium sulphate. The drug properties discovered may serve a prerequisite for its use in the combined treatment of BA patients and those with PA.