THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF AN ANTICHOLINERGIC-SYMPATHOMIMETIC COMBINATIONIN INDUCED RHINOVIRUS COLDS

This study's objective was to determine if the combination of pseudoep hedrine hydrochloride and atropine sulfate attenuates the symptomatic and pathophysiologic response of individuals to experimental rhinoviru s infection when given after illness begins. Forty-three susceptible a dult volunteers were challenged with rhinovirus type 39 and randomly a ssigned to 1 of 2 treatment groups. Twenty-one subjects were treated w ith the active medication (0.3 mg atropine sulfate and 60 mg pseudoeph edrine) and 22 subjects were with inert capsules identical in appearan ce. Treatments were administered 4 times daily beginning approximately 24 hours after rhinovirus challenge and extending for 5 days. Before challenge and on each of 5 treatment days, all volunteers were asked t o rate symptom severity and were evaluated for secretion production (w eighed tissues), nasal patency (active posterior rhinomanometry), nasa l clearance (dyed saccharin technique), eustachian tube function (9-st ep test), and middle ear status (tympanometry). Twenty subjects in eac h group were infected with rhinovirus type 39 and were included in the efficacy analysis. Between-group comparisons showed no significant di fferences in total symptom scores, combined nasal symptom score, secre tion production, or the frequencies of persons with eustachian tube ob struction or abnormal middle ear pressures. However, an objective meas ure of nasal congestion was significantly lower in the active treatmen t group. The nasal mucociliary clearance rate was significantly more i mpaired in that group. Side effects consistent with anticholinergic ac tivity were reported more frequently in the active treatment group.