SURFACTANT NEBULIZATION DOES NOT ALTER AIR-FLOW OBSTRUCTION AND BRONCHIAL RESPONSIVENESS TO HISTAMINE IN ASTHMATIC-CHILDREN

To test the hypothesis that surfactant nebulization improves pulmonary function and reduces bronchial responsiveness to histamine, we studie d 12 children with asthma. We measured before and after inhalation of 100 mg nebulized natural-derived bovine surfactant (Alveofact(R)) and after nebulization of 0.9% NaCl the change in peak expiratory flow, vi tal VC, FEV(1), and forced expiratory flows at 50 and 75% of the flow- volume curve. In addition, we performed a histamine inhalation challen ge. We did not find any significant changes in these parameters after nebulization of surfactant. These findings indicate that the inhalatio n of nebulized surfactant does not alter airflow obstruction and does not alter bronchial responsiveness to histamine in asthmatic children with airflow obstruction.