PREVENTION OF EXERCISE-INDUCED ASTHMA IN CHILDREN USING LOW-DOSES OF INHALED FUROSEMIDE

It has ben demonstrated that inhaled furosemide inhibits indirect but not direct bronchoconstricting stimuli. The exercise test (ET indirect ) has been shown to be inhibited in adults. Our aim was to determine w hether the ET was also inhibited in children by low doses of furosemid e. We studied 10 asthmatic patients with a mean age of II. I years who se ET results were positive, and in whom the ET was repeated after inh aling 28 mg of furosemide. After 10 min, there were no significant sig ns of bronchodilatation. The percent decrease in mean FVC, FEV(1), MF( 50) and peak flow (PF) was significantly lower with the premedication. The protection achieved was: FVC, 66.5%; FEV(1), 51.4%; MF(50), 30.3% ; and PF, 63.9%. No clinical response was observed in 5 of 10 cases. I t was concluded that 28 mg of inhaled furosemide inhibits the ET in as thmatic children.