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Effect of inhaled fluticasone on bronchial responsiveness to neurokinin A in asthma

Dept of Respiratory Diseases, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium

CORRESPONDENCE: G. Joos, Dept of Respiratory Diseases, 7K12 IE, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium. Fax: 32 92402341. E-mail: guy.joos@rug.ac.be

Keywords: asthma, bronchial challenge, bronchial responsiveness, neurokinin A, neuropeptides

Received: July 25, 2001
Accepted January 19, 2002

The present study was supported by GlaxoWellcome plc, UK.

Neurokinin (NK) A causes airway narrowing in patients with asthma through direct and indirect mechanisms. The effects of the inhaled glucocorticosteroid fluticasone propionate (FP) on the bronchial responsiveness to NKA and methacholine were studied.

Patients (n=11) with mild asthma participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial. FP (500 µg b.i.d) or matched placebo was administered via Diskhaler^TM for 14 days. Bronchial challenges were performed on days 1 and 13 (methacholine) and 0 and 14 (NKA) for each treatment period.

At the active treatment period, the mean log₂ provocative concentration causing a 20% fall in the forced expiratory volume in one second (PC₂₀)±sem for NKA was –12.72±0.63 at the beginning and –9.77±0.49 at the end of the period (p<0.0001), while under placebo, it was –12.16±0.82 and –12.19±0.51 respectively (ns). At the active treatment period, the mean log₂ PC₂₀ for methacholine was –5.25±0.40 at the beginning and –4.22±0.31 at the end of the period (p=0.012), while under placebo, it was –5.47±0.47 and –5.24±0.42 respectively (ns). The reduction in response to NKA was significantly larger than that for methacholine.

A 2-week course of an inhaled steroid reduces bronchial responsiveness to neurokinin A, an effect more pronounced than the reduction in bronchial responsiveness to methacholine.

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