Sodium cromoglycate in histamine and methacholine reactivity in asthma

The effect of increasing concentrations of inhaled sodium cromoglycate (SCG) (2, 10, 20 and 40 g/l) on histamine and methacholine bronchial reactivity was studied in nine patients with extrinsic bronchial asthma. The responses to histamine and methacholine were expressed in terms of provocative concentrations producing 20% fall in the FEV1 (PC20). The PC20 for histamine and methacholine was unaffected by all the concentrations of SCG used in the study. These results suggest that the effect of SCG on the bronchial smooth muscle or on the muscarinic receptors is minimal.