[Pirbuterol and salbutamol aerosol for exercise-induced bronchoconstriction]

Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction was produced in 12 asthmatic patients after a 6 minutes run on a 10% steep treadmill ergometer. FEV1 decreased by 12-73% (average 27%) of the control value measured before the run. The rather severe exercise-induced bronchoconstriction remained constant for 10-20 minutes after the run. 21 minutes after the run two puffs of a bronchodilator (salbutamol 0.2 mg or pirbuterol 0.4 mg) were inhaled in an open randomized cross-over fashion at intervals of 1 to 3 days. Following both bronchodilators FEV1 returned to the control value within 5 minutes. There was no significant difference between the bronchodilating effect of salbutamol versus pirbuterol. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed in pulse rates after inhalation of the two selective beta-2-stimulators. In our trial both pirbuterol and salbutamol seemed to be well tolerated; side effects were not observed for either drug.