EFFECT OF INTRAMUSCULAR ADMINISTRATION OF THIAZINAMIUM AND INHALED HISTAMINE ON FORCED INSPIRATORY VOLUME IN 1 S

Twenty-one patients with symptoms suggestive of asthma were evaluated clinically by allergy skin tests, pulmonary function, and histamine in halation challenge. In addition to the forced expiratory manoeuvres (F EV1), forced inspiratory manoeuvres (FIV1), were performed before and after intramuscular administration of thiazinamium (Multergan(R)), a b ronchodilator with markedly anticholinergic properties. The same lung function parameters (FEV1 and FIV1) were obtained before and after his tamine inhalation challenge. The response after bronchodilatation in l itres of FEV1 2.42 +/- 1.12 to 3.27 +/- 0.98 (mean +/- SD) was much la rger than in FIV1 3.44 +/- 1.35 to 4.05 +/- 1.14 (p < 0.05). After his tamine inhalation the observed decrease in FEV1 (2.65 +/- 0.99 to 2.06 +/- 0.89) was not so great as in FIV1 (3.76 +/- 1.09 to 2.90 +/- 1.15 ) (p < 0.02). These results suggest that patients often have more diff iculty with inspiration rather than expiration.