Pharmacological rehabilitation of the asthmatic child

Pharmacological rehabilitation is defined as a decrease of bronchial hyperreactivity and a stabilization of the bronchial reactivity after treatment with drugs possessing prophylactic and therapeutic properties. The models used for the study of the effectiveness of different compounds are the bronchial provocation tests with allergens, histamine, acetylcholine or metacholine, PGF2 or SO2, as well as exercise-induced asthma or challenges with drugs and food. For the critical examination of a drug's effectiveness, the high reproducibility of the test employed is of extraordinary importance. In our own study we were able to show that the immediate reaction in allergen provocation tests can be reproduced very well. The same, is not valid for the late reaction. Controlled studies on the long-term effects of DSCG and Ketotifen on bronchial asthma in children are being discussed. The investigations of bronchial responses to mediators such as histamine and acetylcholine after DSCG and Ketotifen treatment are reviewed; furthermore the author's results are presented.