Z. Diamant et al., EFFECT OF INHALED HEPARIN ON ALLERGEN-INDUCED EARLY AND LATE ASTHMATIC RESPONSES IN PATIENTS WITH ATOPIC ASTHMA, American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine, 153(6), 1996, pp. 1790-1795
Citations number
36
Categorie Soggetti
Emergency Medicine & Critical Care","Respiratory System
Heparin possesses anti-inflammatory properties, which appeared to be d
ependent on the dose, timing, and the route of administration in anima
l studies. in asthma, a single dose of inhaled heparin only slightly r
educed the early asthmatic response (EAR) but failed to protect agains
t the late asthmatic response (LAR) to inhaled allergen. We studied th
e effect of multiple doses of inhaled heparin on the EAR and LAR to in
haled house-dust mite extract in eight stable asthmatics in a two-peri
od, randomized, double-blind, crossover study. During both study perio
ds, a standardized allergen challenge was performed and PC20 histamine
was measured 24 h before and 24 h postallergen, Five doses of unfract
ionated heparin sodium (1,000 U/kg/dose) or placebo were inhaled 90 an
d 30 min preallergen, and 2, 4, and 6 h postallergen. Airway response
was measured by FEV(1), and the EAR (0-3 h) and LAR (3-10 h) were expr
essed as corresponding areas under the time-response curves (AUC). The
acute effects of heparin and placebo on baseline FEV(1) were not diff
erent (p > 0.07). Although not reaching significance, heparin attenuat
ed the EAR by an average of 40% (mean AUC(0-3) +/- SEM: 29.5 +/- 6.0 [
placebo] and 17.8 +/- 5.5% fall . h [heparin]; p = 0.08), while it sig
nificantly reduced the LAR by an average of 36% (AUC(3-10) +/- SEM: 16
9.3 +/- 20.0 [placebo] and 109.1 +/- 23.6% fall . h [heparin]; p = 0.0
05). We conclude that inhaled heparin reduces the LAR to allergen in a
sthmatic subjects, which may be due to its anti-inflammatory activity.
Our finding suggests that heparin may have potential as anti-asthma t
herapy.