[A case of fatal asthma induced by timolol eye-drop]

A 74 year-old man, a known asthmatic since 1972, was treated by timolol eye-drop for acute glaucoma. Several hours later the patient developed a severe attack of asthma, and died subsequently. The autopsy findings were consistent with those of typical status asthmaticus. Our patient is, to our knowledge, the first case of fatal asthma induced by timolol eye-drop in Japan.