Metabolic studies in acute asthma before and after treatment

We studied the metabolism and hormone profile of 9 patients with moderately severe acute asthma before treatment, and again 10 min after intravenous aminophylline (250 mg) or the selective beta-adrenergic stimulant hexoprenaline (5 microgram) intravenously. Compared with basal values in normal subjects the untreated asthmatics had statistically significant raised mean plasma pancreatic glucagon, free fatty acid (FFA) and glucose levels in the plasma and a significantly depressed mean plasma potassium level. Insulin, growth hormone, cortisol, thyrotropin and ketone body levels were normal. The only significant changes after therapy were a further fall in plasma potassium in the hexoprenaline-treated patients and a rise in the mean lactate concentration of the group as a whole. The clinical implications of these findings are briefly considered.