EFFECT OF AN ORAL GOLD COMPOUND, AURANOFIN, ON NONSPECIFIC BRONCHIAL HYPERRESPONSIVENESS IN MILD ASTHMA

Background - A recent double blind clinical trial in Japan has shown t hat auranofin (6 mg/day) is a useful treatment for patients with moder ate to severe asthma. To investigate the mechanism of action of aurano fin the bronchial responsiveness to inhaled methacholine has been stud ied in well controlled asthmatic subjects. Methods - Nineteen adult as ymptomatic asthmatic subjects received auranofin (3 mg orally twice a day) or inactive placebo in random order for 12 weeks in a double blin d fashion. Bronchial responsiveness to inhaled methacholine and pulmon ary function tests were measured at the same time on different days be fore, and six and 12 weeks after, each treatment. Results - Non-specif ic bronchial hyperresponsiveness 12 weeks after treatment with auranof in was decreased compared with that before treatment with auranofin an d 12 weeks after treatment with inactive placebo, although the treatme nt did not improve pulmonary function tests. Conclusions - Non-specifi c bronchial hyperresponsiveness 12 weeks after treatment with auranofi n is decreased in a group of mild asymptomatic asthmatic patients with normal lung function.