[Short term efficacy of inhaler beta2 agonists in childhood asthma (author's transl)]

An attempt was made to assess the relationship between the bronchodilator response of three beta2-agonists (fenoterol salbutamol and terbutaline) administered by a metered aerosol inhaler during 43 lung function measurements on 25 asthmatic children. At constant one minute intervals the changes in total pulmonary flow resistance (R1) and dynamic lung compliance (C1 dyn) were measured. The effect of the three bronchodilators on the mean decrease of R1 was similar and not significantly different. Since R1 may fail to detect peripheral airway obstruction, the efficiency of the three drugs was evaluated on the basis of changes on C1 dyn in two subpopulations, one without signs of overinflation and one with evident overinflation, as judged from the initial values of the functional residual capacities and the C1 dyn's. On the basis of this distinction it is suggested that fenoterol has its predominant effect on patients with overinflation of the lungs and increased C1 dyn probably due to a loss of elastic recoil. Salbutamol is more efficient in patients suffering from a "primary bronchial disease", Terbutaline is equally effective in both.