[Bronchial hyperreactivity after chronic use of salbutamol]

15 patients with bronchial asthma received inhalations of salbutamol three times daily (200 mcg) for 2 months. Spirometry was carried out at the beginning of the study, one and two months after starting the study. The bronchodilating effect and non-specific bronchial hyperreactivity assessed with the histamine bronchoprovocation test were studied. Two month treatment with salbutamol decreased the bronchodilating effect and at the same time produced an increase of non-specific bronchial hyperreactivity.