Repeated dosis of inhaled b2-agonists have been used in the treatment of acute asthma. The effect of added ipratropium bromide (IB) to b2-agonist is controversial in adults. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if addition of IB to fenoterol, in repeated doses, induces a greater bronchodilation, a greater reversion of the attack, and discharge from emergency unit in adults with acute severe asthma. SETTING: Pneumology Emergency Department, Unifesp-Hospital São Paulo, in the period from July 1995 to February 1997. TYPE OF STUDY: Open, randomized and parallel study. Discharge from the hospital: FEV1 and PEF > 60% of the predicted value. METHODS: 120 patients with FEV1 and PEF < 50% of the predicted value were divided into two groups (N = 60): fenoterol (F) and ipratropium bromide + fenoterol (IBF). Each group received inhalation treatment through a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) attached to a holding chamber, administered at 30-minute interval, for a total of three treatments. In the group F four puffs of fenoterol (400 mg) were administered, and in the IBF group, 160 mg of BI and 400 mg of fenoterol (four puffs). RESULTS: The patients did not differ from basal PEF (F = 36 ± 7% vs IBF = 35 ± 9% predicted) and basal FEV1 (F = 33 ± 9% vs IBF = 32 ± 9% predicted). Thirty-two patients of group F and 33 of group IBF were discharged from hospital after the inhalation treatment. The final FEV1 and PEF after inhalation treatments were F = 60 ± 13% vs IBF = 61 ± 11% e F = 74 ± 18% vs IBF = 77 ± 13% (NS). CONCLUSION: The addition of ipratropium bromide to fenoterol results in insignificant functional effect and without clinical impact in the treatment of acute asthma in adults.
Fenoterol; Ipratropium; Status asthmaticus; Respiratory therapy
