[The bronchospasmolytic test with anticholinergic drugs and sympathomimetics: differences between body...

The different bronchodilator effects after inhalation of anticholinergic and beta-adrenergic drugs due to the different methods of measurement (i.a. body plethysmography vs. spirometry) were studied in 43 patients with COLD and in 20 healthy subjects. The greatest changes occur when the body plethysmographic value Rt was chosen. The spirometric values FEV1 and PEF show the greatest bronchodilator effect. The patients with COLD have the best bronchodilation after inhalation of the beta-adrenergic drug, whereas the healthy subjects show the greatest effect after anticholinergic drugs.