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Updated: May 28, 2026
10:20
In vitro Measurements of Tracheal Constriction Using Mice
Published on: June 25, 2012
[Age as influence in the adrenergic/cholinergic bronchomotor response]
1Serviço de Pneumologia, Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal.
Acta Medica Portuguesa
|October 21, 2011
Summary
Aging decreases bronchial lability, impacting bronchodilator response. In elderly asthmatics, ipratropium bromide improved bronchomotricity more than salbutamol, suggesting age-related changes affect drug efficacy.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Geriatrics
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Aging alters pulmonary mechanisms, receptor populations, and nervous control of airways, influencing asthma presentation and bronchodilator efficacy in older adults.
- Existing evidence on age-related bronchodilator response to beta-mimetics and cholinergics is conflicting, with some studies showing decreased efficacy and others no significant difference.
Purpose of the Study:
- To individually evaluate the bronchodilator response to salbutamol and ipratropium bromide in different age groups.
Main Methods:
- Three groups (young healthy, elderly healthy, elderly asthmatic) underwent spirometry and plethysmography.
- Bronchodilator testing with salbutamol and ipratropium bromide was performed on separate days.
- Bronchodilator response was defined as a ≥12% or ≥200 ml increase in FEV1 or FVC.
Main Results:
- With age, negative responses to both drugs increased, while responses positive to salbutamol and negative to ipratropium bromide decreased.
- Elderly asthmatics showed increased positive responses to both drugs compared to young individuals.
- Elderly asthmatics had decreased positive responses to salbutamol and negative to ipratropium bromide, but increased positive responses to ipratropium bromide and negative to salbutamol.
Conclusions:
- Aging leads to decreased bronchial lability, irrespective of the bronchodilator used.
- Elderly asthmatics generally exhibited a superior bronchial response compared to healthy elderly individuals.
- Ipratropium bromide demonstrated improved bronchomotricity in aged asthmatics, unlike salbutamol, potentially due to age-related decreases in adrenergic drug efficacy.
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