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Biomedical subjects

H W Kelly

Publications and source records attributed to H W Kelly.

58 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Metaproterenol sulfate for asthmatic children with therapeutic serum theophylline concentrations.

The effects of oral metaproterenol sulfate in asthmatic children maintained chronically on therapeutic doses of theophylline were investigated. Metaproterenol sulfate tablets were compared with placebo in a double-blind, cross-over study with 17 asthmatic children (aged 6-11 years) maintained on a sustained-release preparation of theophylline. Spirometric measurements were made to determine the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and a forced oscillation technique was used to measure total respiratory conductance (TRC). Differences in the variables from baseline studies following the test drug or placebo were recorded at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 4 hours after the test dose. Metaproterenol led to a statistically significant improvement in FEV1 and TRC over placebo with a peak difference at three hours (p less than 0.05). The children with a resting FEV1 below 80% predicted experienced the greatest improvement. No serious side effects from metaproterenol were encountered. The forced oscillation technique provided a reproducible noninvasive means of measuring the bronchodilator response in young children. In the recommended doses, metaproterenol can improve pulmonary function in asthmatic children who have abnormal pulmonary function while being maintained on theophylline.

Asthma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Asthma pharmacotherapy: current practices and outlook.

Owing to its high incidence and rapidly increasing prevalence in the United States population, and to the billions of dollars in associated costs, asthma is a significant public health problem. A variety of pharmacologic agents exist to manage asthma, but their efficacies vary, as do their costs. Recently published guidelines on asthma management set forth a four-step approach that is guided by severity of disease and symptom control. These guidelines also suggest increased use of antiinflammatory agents, primarily inhaled corticosteroids, which carry a higher cost. Shifts in prescribing patterns among physicians who treat patients with asthma indicate that the guidelines are being adopted to some extent. However, some reluctance toward widespread use of corticosteroids remains, due to potential adverse effects as well as cost considerations. Alternatives to increased or high-dose corticosteroid use include combination therapy with long-acting bronchodilators. Newer medications that have more specific mechanisms of action, such as leukotriene synthesis inhibitors and leukotriene receptor antagonists, may offer another option.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗