Article date: March 1978
By: MK Benson, WT Berrill, JM Cruickshank, GS Sterling, in Volume 5, Issue 5, pages 415-419
1 Cardiovascular and airways response to two non‐cardioselective beta‐ adrenoceptor blocking drugs, propranolol and pindolol (with partial agonist activity) and two cardioselective beta‐adrenoceptor blocking drugs, acebutolol (with partial agonist activity) and atenolol, were compared in twelve patients with asthma. 2 All four drugs produced a significant reduction in resting pulse rate and prevented the increase in heart rate following inhaled isoprenaline (1,500 microgram). 3 Seven patients in clinical remission showed no significant bronchoconstrictor response to any of the drugs. In the remaining five patients, bronchoconstriction was greatest following propranolol (mean reduction in FEV1 26.6%) and least following atenolol (mean reduction in FEV1 6.5%). 4 The bronchodilator response to inhaled isoprenaline was blocked by propranolol and pindolol but not by acebutolol and atenolol. 5 Partial agonist activity did not appear to be clinically useful.
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1978.tb01647.x
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